Across the world generally and in Pakistan specifically, the rate of polarisation within society can be readily judged by the exit of numerous of one’s friends from respective WhatsApp groups – particularly after a defining event in regular political discourse! Granted that in the Islamic Republic defining moments come and go but the recent bungling arrest of Imran Khan crushed all previous records! The day after, there were quite a few heated discussions, some name calling and much finger wagging – almost all from the relative comfort of one’s own armchair. Subsequently, WhatsApp was overwhelmed with notifications of hurried departures!
The Security Forces – especially those of its lower ranks, officers and men alike – have sacrificed their lives for this country
How did we get here? That to be honest, is now academic – mostly because pieces upon pieces have already been written, and will be written, about how we got into our current predicament. While we learn from history, it is of the utmost importance that we look ahead and get ready to salvage the situation. Is it possible? Yes. Is there a way? Yes. Is there a will?
No. It may not look good on the surface of it but one must admit, two out of three is not bad! Even to think of any sort of de-escalation, there needs to be a clear understanding of the virtues of a graceful window of exit which is afforded to even the worst of enemies. This will have to work on three fronts.
There will be judgements with razor thin majorities and then there will be judgements that will not be popular or well liked across the board.
One, the political parties – although it is evident that very strong positions have been taken up everywhere with seemingly little room to manoeuvre but politics is all about the art of the possible. Considering it sits in government, the PDM has to initiate any confidence building measures and must imminently stop the unlawful pick-up, detention and harassment of opposition luminaries. It should also be allowed to rollback the vitriol it has been spewing against all and sundry.
The JUI(F) and their ilk must also stop acting like the opposition and not pressurise the higher judiciary. The PTI needs to ensure peaceful demonstrations so that life and property are not the final recipient of vial processions. It should also respond in letter and spirit to the remaining cases in superior courts while allowing the government to take back most which are as meaningless as they are frivolous. The PDM and PTI need to jointly disown any campaign that is run against any national institution. Both have to give each other some breathing space and bring down the heat in the cauldron by a notch or two or risk being extinguished under the weight of forces they themselves don’t seem to understand, recognise and control!
Two, the judiciary – while it is correct that superior court judgements are to be true to the constitution and the law of the land, it is equally correct that in the past judicial performance was tarnished by following the much-lamented doctrine of necessity. Then – it was done for the wrong reasons. Today – it may be done for the right reasons. Although it is difficult to imagine any right reasons to go against stipulated legislation but desperate circumstances need desperate actions. For example, there is no doubt that any provincial or national elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of respective assemblies. If that mark has been breached, true that it will create a precedent but now that we are already beyond the 90-day limit there needs to be some wrist slapping and then a quick move towards elections.
The Supreme Court has shown enough restraint and wisdom to ask the political class to come together and find a suitable alternative to the 90-day jurisdiction. Political leadership needs to recognise this and not assail the honourable judges day and night in order to drive a wedge between them. The Supreme Court justices should also be allowed to hold opinions, whether personal or legal, with an understanding that there will be judgements with razor thin majorities and then there will be judgements that will not be popular or well liked across the board. The US Supreme Court regularly passes landmark judgements with slim majorities that are unpopular and even occasionally controversial but they are not chastised on chat show circuits for those! And that is how it should be!
Three, the powers that be – soon after independence the establishment arrived as a permanent fixture in the political scenario. Good or bad, that can be debated. What can’t be debated is the fact that it is the final arbitrator of power in the land of the pure! As such, it perhaps bears the heaviest of burdens to ensure an environment where an efficient climb down from all stakeholders is possible. For its own part, it needs to be allowed time to embark upon a corrective maintenance drive within its ranks from a national, institutional, and strategic perspective! This should be done along with the recognition that the security forces – especially those of its lower ranks, officers and men alike – have sacrificed their lives for this country and that should never be forgotten even when the turmoil around us forces us to do so!
When the enemy is cornered, it should always be afforded a graceful window of exit lest the cornered enemy takes down everything with it!
In an environment where mudslinging is in vogue, retribution is the dish of the day and extreme positions are on the menu – the virtues of a graceful window of exist can be lost. However, this is exactly the time when saner heads should prevail and everyone should get off their moral high horse because from there, the fall is always steep and always severe.
It is said that in the arena of war, when the enemy is cornered, it should always be afforded a graceful window of exit lest the cornered enemy takes down everything with it! Pakistan can’t surely afford that and needs big egos to take a step back in the greater interest of the people of Pakistan!
