Don’t wreck democratic process in Pakistan!
It is just fifteen months when elections were held in Pakistan, Imran Khan’s PTI formed its government in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Its 35 members were elected to National Assembly, took the oath of office; some of them became members or office bearers of different committees of the assembly. Appeals were filed with the Election Tribunal in some instances of irregularities in election and some of these were formally disposed off.
Thus the
march of democratic process in Pakistan was smooth. Economy was reviving and
the army was meeting with success in dealing with terrorism in its Operation
Zarb-e-azab. On international level also Pakistan was appreciated for taking
desirable steps against Taliban terrorists. Nawaz Sharif’s government conducted
agreements with various countries especially with China for expanding trade and
commerce and more importantly for generating ten thousand megawatts of electric
power and road and rail link from Gilgit to Gawadar.
But the
enemies of Pakistan and their stooges within the country are not happy with
Pakistan stabilizing its democratic institutions. They are not happy with
Pakistan recovering from economic down-slide as well as Pakistan taking care of
its security. These inimical forces are hell bent to destroy all these
achievements.
A
dissection of the motives of those who have given a call for ‘ Long March’ or
‘Freedom March’ will show that Muslim League (Q), Chowdhury Brothers and those
who have been supporters of military dictatorship and have been occupying the
seats of power in the centre or in Punjab, have never felt comfortable with
Pakistan hanging on to democratic dispensation. They cannot come to power when
democracy is entrenched in Pakistan. Sheikh Rashid has been an ardent supporter
of military establishment and has invariably betrayed his colleagues.
Tahiru’l
Qadri has been cooling his heels at the doors of the Pope and other Christian
leaders in the West, and has been surviving on social assistance in Canada.
Wherefrom did he get all this enormous wealth to run a movement? What can one
expect from religious maniacs like him? Hazrat
Ali has rightly said about such people that “by obliging a man of cheap
mentality, seek refuge with God Almighty from his evil nature”.
What an
irony that a noble family like Qadris should produce an evil like Tahiru’l
Qadiri. Don’t forget that even religious
fanatics have caused no small damage to the Muslims. The nexus formed by these
groups in which Imran, Qadri and others are involved is striving to bring about
destruction of Pakistan.
General
Musharraf has also announced that he would be joining the inquilab march of
Qadri. He and his other cohorts, too, are readying to destroy Pakistan’s
democracy. After going through the speeches, video messages and religious
thoughts of Tahir, one feels that he is a psychological patient and needs
medical treatment. All his speeches show that there is an external enemy
instigating him and prompting him in his malicious utterances. It is curious
that in this 21st century a religious leader is shifting from his
statements and stands every time and is instigating his blind followers to
resort to violence. It is baffling how Pakistan is tolerating such a rabid
fanatic and his blind followers. His followers may not number more than a few
thousand persons and they want to hold a country of 18 crore people as a
hostage?
Joining
hands with Imran Khan and other undemocratic elements, Qadri wants to bring down
the entire democratic system including the parliament and democratic
institutions of the country. And all this is happening at a time when the
Pakistani army is engaged in destroying the stronghold of international
terrorists in North Waziristan.
How can
one explain the fact that in the National Assembly, Imran Khan’s PTI occupies
the third place, and additionally, it has formed the government of one province
namely Pukhtunkhwa, and still he wants to cut at the roots of democracy in the
country? Hardly has the government of Nawaz Sharif been in the seat of power
for a year and half when Imran is there asking for his resignation?
Let it be
noted that Khyber Pukhtunkhwa has become the centre of international
terrorists. It also remains a backward area. Here runs the government of Imran
Khan’s PTI. He could have undertaken social work on a large and positive note
and brought about a big change in the entire region. This would have brought
him great credit among the people of Pakistan and he would have achieved
commendable national profile. It is unfortunate that he has chosen to work
against democracy which Pakistan has been struggling hard to stabilize. The
marches for which he has given a call can lead to disturbances and civil war
and thus provide the army an opportunity to step in.
The
question is that if these groups, now in tandem, demand renewed election after
just fifteen months of the existing government, and for that purpose they
resort to ‘Long March” type of process, what guarantee is there that this practice
will not be repeated once they succeed derailing the existing government? They know it well, and yet they are persisting
with their nefarious design which can be summed up as follows:
1) Not to allow Pakistan become a
peaceful country and free from terrorism.
2) Uproot or weaken democracy at any cost.
3) Punish Nawaz Sharif for his independent foreign policy.
4) Shield Musharraf from legal cases
5) Maintain domination of the army.
6) Maintain Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism.
7) Constitute assemblies under the control of
the army
8) Imran Khan’s accusation against the former chief justice is to avenge latter’s (CJ’s)
animus against Musharraf.
9) Spread disorder and turmoil if you want to instigate army’s revolt and wind up
democracy as the political system of the government.
10) Foment civil war in Pakistan leading to its collapse is the plan of the Jews
and the Americans so that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is snatched away from
them.
One can
only say that all these anti-national activities are carried out either by
blind, dumb and deaf followers (of these leaders) or that the literate youth
are just day-dreaming?
Pakistanis
should remember that they are becoming the enemies of their own. By dragging
their country to a civil war, they are planning to destroy their country and in
the process they, too, shall get decimated.
The present government has
people’s mandate for five years. It must be allowed o work for the full tenure
as is the usual system with all democracies in the world. Its delivery will
have to be judged after it has completed its term. People can decide at that
time but demanding its ouster before it completes its tenure, will only weaken
Pakistan’s democratic institutions. Do the above mentioned groups want that?
This article was published in various South-Asian newspapers.
