The People are real Strength of Development
Political commentators believe that Pakistan’s politics has been devoid of historical logic because today the era of totalitarianism and hybrid system is over in the world and the rights of the oppressed classes, democratic values, secularism and environment are in comparison. The trend is increasing. Only those countries are developing which follow these democratic traditions. In contrast, ever since the caretaker government came to us, there was some kind of confusion about the conduct of elections, which should finally end after the Supreme Court’s decision and the release of the Election Commission’s schedule. Although two months ago, the Supreme Court clearly decided to hold the elections on February 8 after hearing all the parties and in this decision the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court clearly said that there should not be any disputes about the election. And no media house should publish such news which creates any confusion regarding the conduct of elections. Although the Supreme Court made a very important decision, some observers and commentators have continued to express doubts about the conduct of the elections and the growing popularity of PTI in Punjab and KP as its justification, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statements and increasing terrorism are said.
Political history shows that whenever election time comes, some unseen elements try to create confusion so that people’s interest in elections is reduced and thus a weak government is established. It has also been observed that a single party by blaming the transparency of these elections, along with weakening the future government, politics has also been embellished with decadent traditions. It should be remembered that earlier the Chairman Election Commission had said that a level playing field would be given to all parties, but despite this, some political parties are not getting permission to conduct election campaigns. Cases are constantly being established against the leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaaf. It should have happened that before the elections, all the parties got a level playing field, but according to our political traditions, various leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaaf have been locked up in jail. The fear is gaining strength that a large number of electables will avoid taking the ticket of Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Recently, a senior journalist in his private visit asked the youth in different districts of Pakistan about voting in the upcoming elections. A large number of youth expressed their intention to vote for Tehreek-e-Insaf. Despite these circumstances, political parties have a duty. That they should present a comprehensive manifesto to the people to solve the problems of the people and get the country out of permanent crises, so that like the modern countries of the world, we should vote on the basis of the manifesto and not on the basis of personalities and heroes.
There is no doubt that the establishment started putting its hands on Imran Khan’s head since 2011, as a result of which Tehreek-e-Insaf government was formed in 2018 and similar conditions were created for Nawaz Sharif before the elections, which Tehreek-e-Insaf is facing today. It should have happened that the establishment would have rectified its old mistakes and allowed it to evolve without any interference in the political system, but now, by making another mistake, the mistake of Nawaz Sharif is being rectified.
On the other hand, when we study the European political history, we find that an evolving political process connected the state, democracy and the constitution in Europe and as a result the roots of democratic traditions became very deep in these societies. This is the main reason why not only welfare states are growing in Europe today, but the relationship between the people and the state is getting deeper day by day. Thus, our society is moving towards degradation instead of moving towards positive political traditions.
The example of India is in front of us, where for seventy-five years, the establishment never interfered in the political process despite the worst conditions and gave the Election Commission a chance to flourish freely, due to which no party has ever questioned the performance of this institution.
Political commentators believe that Pakistani society can move towards these standards only when the interim government recognizes itself as only an interim government in line with the Supreme Court’s decision and instead of getting involved in secondary issues, it should exercise power according to the constitution and perform its primary duty of transferring to public representatives.
Today, we cannot deny that the political power of Pakistan is not in the hands of the people, even if elections are held continuously, the people will continue to influence politics in one way or another. But its main condition is that all the political parties together sign a new democratic charter with heart and soul, in which it is ensured that no political party will help to overthrow a democratic government in the future.