THE ruling party needs a reminder perhaps that there is more than neutrality that divides the beasts from the men. The chaotic scenes witnessed on Friday in Islamabad’s Red Zone cannot be excused in any civilised society. Yet, instead of issuing a strong rebuke to the group of supporters that broke down the gates of Sindh House — which included two members of parliament — PTI leaders have prevaricated and even defended the violence that took place.
The information minister’s response, in particular, has been quite troubling. Forgetting perhaps that his party heads the state, he has blamed the opposition for somehow provoking the attack. He has also said it may not be possible to stop such incidents from recurring. This is a shameful abdication of responsibility by the government.
The violence these past few days has also not been confined to the physical kind. At least two of the ruling party’s leaders have publicly used the worst profanities to castigate MNAs they believe sold out to the opposition. What had so far been a troubling trend confined to social media — where the youth seem to have learnt to think nothing of flinging the most despicable unpleasantries at those they disagree with — has now been brought to our television screens courtesy Shahbaz Gill and Alya Hamza. Their outbursts have snatched away that last fig leaf of decency and given the public a full view of just how vile political discourse has become in these last few years.
It is understandable that PTI’s young workers are angry and upset at what they see as a betrayal by some of their leaders. They have a democratic right to protest and make their disappointment known. However, their protests should under no circumstances turn violent and transgress into thuggish behaviour. Any ‘lesson’ they may want to teach the dissidents ought to be taught only through the ballot box.
Editorial: 'Lotacracy' has stirred the citizenry’s simmering distrust of Pakistan’s democratic order
The ruling party would do well to remember that human beings created societies based on rules and order to rise above the state of nature beasts thrive in. The injustices PTI perceives to have suffered in these past few weeks do not give it licence to tear up the social contract that binds the Pakistani state together.
Bitter as the prospect of an unceremonious ouster may be, there is nothing extra-constitutional or unlawful about the motion of no-confidence brought against the prime minister. While it is true that the PTI’s fears regarding horse-trading may not be misplaced, there is little it can do in this respect at the moment other than finding indisputable proof and initiating suits for dismissal of the floor-crossing MPs. This is, at the end of the day, a purely parliamentary fight that has to be fought under the rules of the Constitution. Saner voices should intervene before it spills further into the streets.
Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022
