EDITORIAL
Politics in Pakistan Need Democratic Reconciliation
Democracy is a political culture of reconciliation. Although ideological and political objectives vary, all political parties must reconcile to develop a consensus on the political means, if not the end. The consensus among the political parties on how to play a game is like providing poetic justice to democracy. Undoubtedly, the politics in Pakistan is competitively personal; then there are better ways to move forward. Unfortunately, the politics in Pakistan has become personal, vindictive and self-obsessive.
The former Prime Minister Imran Khan is not set to sit with PDM. Then, PDM is in government. There are constitutional and legal compulsions that the caretaker setup shall be formed jointly. It raises the question of how PTI will cope with this situation. They only have options to sit with PDM as government or in opposition to form coordinated caretaker setups in federation and provinces. Can they provide a free ground to PDM by withdrawing from the legislatures? Even the government in Punjab and the opposition have formed a joint committee to finalize the name of the caretaker Chief Minister. PTI must think that they need their legislative presence in Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, and Federal assemblies to finalize the caretaker setups before elections. If they provide a free ground to PDM, PTI might face serious challenges in contesting elections.
The strength of political parties is their presence in legislatures. The whole activity of electioneering and politics means that they come to legislatures, and that too with a majority. Then, if they go out of the legislature, how can they remain relevant, as the only measurement to prove popularity is elections? If PTI does not become a part of legislative transactions, it will lose its political advantage. Then, the former Prime Minister or the PTI can not decide that they will not cooperate with PDM in constitutional obligations of political transactions. Because the people vote for PDM and PTI, both must respect the mandate of each other.
PTI and PDM must comprehend the spirit of democracy, the rule of law and due procedure. Democracy is already in shambles in Pakistan. Therefore, united politicians, on specific means, can only cater for the role of the Establishment and other characters. If they remain divided, democracy shall never prosper in Pakistan.
It is the responsibility of the politicians to ensure a term of five years. It is unjustifiable to dissolve assemblies before the expiry of the term. How can IK and PTI justify not allowing a term of five years? After all, the PDM took over the government while proving its majority in the national assembly. Rather than going for early elections, Ik and PTI must dislodge the PDM in the National assembly by securing more than 172 legislators. Unfortunately, the term of five years is not being completed due to the politicians. It is not a good omen for democracy. Hence, democracy requires political consensus, and all parties must develop it for functional democracy in Pakistan. Politicians can not blame Establishment and Bureaucracy for their political failures.
Lastly, Imran Khan and PTI are Pakistan’s most famous political entities. Therefore, they should be more responsible because they might win the coming elections. They should not provide any opportunity to the PDM where their election and popularity interests are compromised. PDM will try maximumly to dislodge the political popularity of IK and PTI. The ball is in the court of IK and PTI; how wisely they roll it.
