By Shahid Dastgir Khan
A country that desires progress but it’s rulers do not allow dissent or democracy within their political party and have no regard for rule of law, human dignity, human rights and welfare of its people will always struggle to earn genuine respect within the masses and the international community.
Pakistan struggles to deal with political crises from time to time in a chaotic democracy, dominated mostly by corrupt dynasty politicians and controlled by its military establishment. The country’s history of political crises, military dictatorships, unconstitutional interventions , covert and overt threats to the elected rulers by the powers that be, trials of politicians for corruption and then the courts setting them free, threats and actual violence by hardline religious extremists, innocent killings using blasphemy laws, human rights abuses including missing persons, kidnapping, forced exile or mysterious murders of journalists and civil and human rights activists have yet again brought the country to a crisis which is at a tipping point.
Just today during Imran Khan’s long march a young TV Channel 5 journalist covering the march, fell from the container and tragically lost her life after being crushed under the wheels of the container. Just a few days earlier an eminent investigative journalist Arshad Sharif was shot and killed in Kenya in mysterious circumstances. He was being followed and harassed and was facing several false charges to silence his voice. His investigative work included senior army officers.
A shattered economy, an unelected government put together with the collusion of the military establishment and the covert intervention and blessings of the USA through a vote of no confidence against former PM Imran Khan has suddenly pitched him and the masses against the military establishment, thanks to the power of social media and some courageous journalism. Emotions are also running high after the arrests, detention and torture of Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati have added fuel to fire. Society needs voices of dissent and respect for human rights for it to continually progress and suppressing freedoms will continue to escalate tensions, chaos, violence and turmoil.
The benchmark for a progressive nation must be the genuine intent by its rulers to encourage democracy within their party, implement rule of law in its true spirit and adopt the universally accepted values of democracy and peaceful transfer of power through a people’s vote in free and fair elections. That is what Pakistan desperately needs today in order to play a credible role within the international community.
It is evident that the military establishment has yet again used the same old and failed tactics to dislodge an elected government in order to safeguard its vested interests by influencing, monitoring and even
dictating the foreign and defence policy of the country. Furthermore they remain accountable to no one except their own institution only.The army chief Gen Bajwa has announced that he will leave his office upon expiry of his term in a few weeks and the army will stay away from politics. Gen Bajwa in the same breath stated that the USA is our great ally and must help Pakistan with trade and investment, a highly political statement. In the past he has also criticised Russia on the Ukraine war, despite the then civilian government of Imran Khan’s stance of a peaceful resolution of the conflict without taking sides.Thus the army does not miss any opportunity to put it’s foot down and take control of defence and foreign policy and bring about a government change if they so decide.
The DG ISPR Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar and DG ISI Gen Nadeem Anjum addressed a highly controversial politically charged press conference strongly criticising Imran Khan with a warning that they were ready to come to the help of the government if needed, referring to the people’s long march. Indeed, the COAS meets foreign ambassadors and dignitaries, travels abroad with the Prime Minister, attends many official functions, addresses educational institutions, calls the shots on defence and foreign policy etc so the military are ever present in politics. Such statements are not good for democracy and continue to torture the soul of a nation in desperate need of genuine freedom.
Turning to the peaceful right to protest and individual freedoms, the role of courts and the army, Imran Khan should lead by example if he wants to prepare the people for a peaceful transition to democracy, free from military intervention. He should avoid rhetoric about the military establishment and comments bordering on contempt of court. That can easily backfire in a fragile democracy and dangerous in a system riddled with nepotism, abuse of authority and corruption, where the victim of injustice can easily be portrayed as the culprit and lose liberty and even tortured or sentenced to long imprisonment on false charges. It can also be damaging politically since he advocates rule of law and stands for peaceful protests, democracy and human rights. He is a legend, a towering figure, trusted and respected by the people, the undisputed political leader and champion of the people in present day Pakistan. He carries a huge responsibility on his shoulders, fighting a lone battle courageously, in a country where the system supports the rich and the powerful. He must move forward with maturity compatible with his long experience of struggle. He must be clear about the military’s non-intervention in the country’s politics about which he has raised very effective awareness never witnessed before. The people have spoken very clearly and openly for the first time. He must stay away from the power brokers close to the establishment and listen to the grassroots party worker and the masses.
The people’s long march named HAQIQI AZADI MARCH, led by Imran Khan can open a new chapter in politics and is an opportunity for powers that be, to recognise their past mistakes and realise and respect the people’s demand of fresh elections. Any miscalculation by the administration, use of force or mishap during the long march can result in street violence, loss of precious lives and anarchy. Senior cross party politicians should commence the process of a dialogue and engage positively for peace and elections and democracy free from military intervention. However, the politicians and vested interests holders would have to swallow their pride and put aside individual egos, respect the demands of the people for a peaceful transition to an elected government with the hope of a peaceful and progressive future for Pakistan. That is the need of the hour in the national interest.
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(The author Shahid Dastgir Khan is a solicitor of the senior courts of England & Wales, former trustee and council member of Anti-Slavery International UK and Head of Human Rights, PTI London.)