DESPITE political awakening in recent years, there remains a lot to change in the political sphere. Truly, People have changed their thinking, but this change has not been followed by due actions. While it is appreciable that people have become expressive with respect to their political rights and views, there can be no denying the fact that voting on the basis of clans and tribes is not a thing of the past; it is still in vogue.

As has been observed, such a political culture has two flaws. First, it promotes tribal enmities. Tribal enmities between different clans remain alive, and these feuds greatly influence the voting pattern. Second, such a culture renders individual voices ineffective and worthless.

In this culture, individual voices have no importance at all. The system further gives the politicians the facility of striking a deal with the head of a clan. That is good enough for an electoral victory.

Besides, such a deal mostly comprises incentives relating to local police and administration that one needs to keep an upper hand in the inter-clan rivalry. Such an approach is the most significant factor in keeping the already marginalised areas backward and resource-deficient.

Keeping them engaged has a certain purpose. When people are busy in their enmities and feuds, they have no time or, say, the inclination to demand schools and quality education for their children.

When more people die because of enmity and clashes than owing to health and other issues, why would they ask for better healthcare? Instead, they will prefer to be politically and administratively well-equipped and empowered to take revenge of the loss of their loved ones. This is how the vicious cycle goes on.

Any change is not possible unless people change themselves. People will have to wake up to this grim reality. They will have to change their demands from legal cover in illegal practices to quality education and healthcare. They will have to ask for infrastructure development instead of support in legal cases.

It is only through ending the rampant tribal enmities, and reconciling their differences that people can focus on what they really need and what they should legitimately demand. Till that happens, electoral politics in Pakistan will continue to actually promote rivalries based on clans and tribes. There will be no winner.

Muhammad Mubasir Khan Akhrota
Bhakkar

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2024