NOT too long ago, it used to be a shame for any political party having even nominal public standing to claim any support from the ‘establishment’.

But Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal has brazenly claimed that he and his former party colleague, Dr Farooq Sattar of MQM Pakistan, were in negotiations under the auspices of the establishment and the latter helped to form the new alliance.

Although the director general of Rangers was quick to come out for damage control, the cat has come out of the bag. If the DG is right and the establishment has nothing to do with politics, then it should take Kamal to task.

Not taking action against Kamal and not holding him responsible for his words create more doubts, providing more juicy stuff to the media.

Previously, the public was skeptic when opposition leaders alleged election rigging by the establishment, while the government complained about interventions and ‘behind the curtain hand’. Now such politicians will be quick to cite Kamal’s revelation as proof of what they had been claiming in the past.

I am afraid this episode does not augur well for democracy.

Gulsher Panhwer

Johi

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2017