MUD-SLINGING and character assassi-nation have been a norm in Pakistani politics for long. We have seen political leaders being maligned in the past by their rivals for petty gains. If we look at the current political situation, we find politics and the country in a great mess.

We see moral degradation at every press conference nowadays with character assassination of political rivals and words like ‘traitors’ and ‘foreign agents’ being used for them.

Democracy is still the best form of governance because it allows free speech and focuses on the welfare of people. But, this free speech does not mean moral bankruptcy and character assassination of one’s opponents in the political arena.

It is the responsibility of the politicians to keep a check on rivals where and when needed, but it should be limited to the policies and decisions of the opponents and should always be objective. Is it a case of asking for too much? Will we ever see our politicians disagreeing in an agreeable fashion? For the present, it seems impossible.

Asim Daud
Abbottabad

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2022