Daily Times

Emotionalism is a helpless state of mind that causes desperation in the absence of any reasoning. It can be caused by bereavement but, for the most part, it is due to injustice, humiliation and loss of dignity, making it impossible to look at things objectively. It is when you know that a solution is not humanly conceivable. The more distant it is from reason, the more it can be damaging for the self and for society in general. Those hit by adversity, their eyes remain drained of any expression. Emotionalism asks for desperate measures and, if not reasoned with, it can lead to violence without any thought of its repercussions. Collective emotionalism carries the seeds of turmoil. It can easily lead to destruction of life, property and infrastructure.
Rage is an offshoot of emotionalism and carries more danger than emotionalism alone. In a highly charged group, it can bring many to prevent the law enforcement agencies from doing their work. Often, sensationalism is a powerful tool for politicians to lead a mob against an entrenched system to bring it down. This leads to anarchy rather than meaningful change. Though there have been genuine protests, they have not been given proper heed in redressing the grievances voiced therein. For example, in the sheer cold of winter, back in 2012, many members of the Hazara Shia community staged a mass protest in Quetta and refused to bury the coffins of their loved ones until justice was served to protect the community from a creeping Shia genocide. Their demands were met with Governor’s Rule being imposed for their security. It was the call of a moral judgment.
These emotional sentiments are caused by injustice. The crimes committed against the vulnerable classes can be very horrid, yet it is the duty of the government to provide justice and security to them through the institutions in place. But here is a tragic scenario: all the institutions, especially those belonging to civil society, have failed miserably in delivering services, thus making the public lose faith in them. This is a dangerous predicament. There is a dire need for judicial reforms and the dispensation of speedy justice. An emotionally charged mob cannot be controlled but there are subtle ways to tackle the mob and to initiate legislation that can assure them that justice will be given to them.
But there are times when law enforcing agencies have to take firm charge for the protection of human lives and properties. Emotions have been profusely played upon by the clergy traditionally, which has routinely incited violence, especially against people who are falsely accused of blasphemy. This is when the laws fail and the accused is dealt with by the mob itself by arousing religious emotionalism. Coming to the present dharnas (sit-ins) of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), they have managed to gather people by focusing on their poverty and destitution. They are playing the emotional card to attract more people to D-Chowk to hear ‘revelations’ about the abuse of power by the country’s rulers. The corruption of the leaders revealed is making more and more people conscious about their politicians. However, the only catch in all this is propaganda against state institutions that are literally becoming dysfunctional, thus bringing important business activities and investment opportunities to a halt. This is a serious economic blow for Pakistan in terms of economic stability. The most ironic action of the PTI was to announce a civil disobedience movement that Imran Khan initiated by burning his electricity bill. Moreover, he appealed to the nation to stop paying taxes and to bring remittances from abroad illegally. Such precedents created are more dangerous than serving the people with any benefits. In an already lawless country, such actions will breed more ground for illegal businesses and hooliganism, which we are already seeing in the PTI and PAT workers. Though Imran Khan wants to take the place of Gandhi through civil disobedience, he forgets that civil disobedience, from which the Quaid-e-Azam refrained, was a failed movement. Nothing can bring a change to the current scenario until a voice is raised in the democratically elected parliament. A change imposed from outside the system carries the danger of bloodshed and deadlock, whereas a change brought from within the system is more effective, powerful and acceptable.
Leading an emotionally charged mob can be harmful. The only way that it can be dealt with is through pragmatic and reasonable action in parliament, through which the demands of all sections of society can be synchronised with their ground reality. Bills should be passed in their favour to remove their grievances. Getting the public out on the street with “go Nawaz go” slogans will not help in any case. Rather, it will detract attention from other more serious concerns: Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the floods, for example. Furthermore, it has blocked routes for development efforts among the poor segments of society, besides postponing the visit of the Chinese president. Only a pragmatic approach by all leaders can help dispel the current deadlock and make the life of the common man easier. The voting people of Pakistan should be justifiably dealt with and serious concern shown towards them. Common sense is needed to deal with the situation and there is no rocket science involved. It is imperative to understand the ground realities at the grassroots level. Unless that is done there can be no way to dispel the mob unless the landless farmers, peasants and working class discredit them.

The writer is a freelance columnist and may be contacted at zeeba.hashmi@gmail.com