Daily Times

It is a popular anecdote that during the French Revolution a huge crowd had assembled and shouted slogans outside the royal palace. The king and queen looked out the window and asked the guard, “Is this a revolt?” The guard replied, “No sire, it is a revolution!” Almost the same picture has been painted by our ‘royalty’ and ‘courtiers’ in the joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan. Almost all the speakers have competed in defending jamhooriat (democracy). They feel it is a revolt and not a revolution supported by the people. It is amazing that these courtiers have failed to realise that democracy is in no danger! Is the demand for free and fair elections against democracy or does it strengthen democracy? Is the demand to bring the culprits of the Model Town massacre to justice against democracy? Or would it result in justice and confidence in democracy? Is the establishment of smaller administrative units for better attention to the people, against democracy or would it strength a democratic system? Is the demand to hold local body elections under the constitution something against democracy? Will it strengthen democratic institutions?

Demands by the protesting thousands require discarding corrupt and outdated systems and bringing in a contemporary modern system of governance. The royalty and the courtiers have failed to understand and, without exception, have harped on about defending democracy and the Prime Minister (PM), not realising that they have completely missed the point. In over one week of deliberations of the joint session, not once have the demands of inqilab (revolution) or insaaf (justice) been studied in detail. Protesters had to become aggressive, out of control, marching onto the PM House and the National Assembly, before one demand was conceded, that too because the courts ordered it and neither the royalty nor the courtiers could stop it. That was how the first information report (FIR) against the suspected killers of Model Town was registered. But that is not enough.

Similarly, some parties agree that the 2013 elections were rigged. Some of the constituencies audited so far show thousands of unregistered votes and, in places, almost 60,000 votes more than the number of registered voters. Would an investigation not strengthen democratic traditions? These are the major demands that our royalty and courtiers do not even want to look at. They just shout, show their loyalty and practice oratory to please the ‘monarch’. The monarch sits with a smug smile at the end of the front row and appreciates the loyalty of his beneficiaries. It is a club that has members, friends and families. They take turns at governing, call it democracy and get together to defend it.

The people who need the fruits of democracy, equality, justice, civil rights, food and shelter are out in the cold and sneered upon as if they are from some other country. Some of the courtiers advocate a strong hand and ask the monarch to turn them away. They feel these people, by protesting, are encroaching upon the holy territory of the feudal and the rich. They talk of saving the system! Why? Because the present constituency-based system, ridden with corruption, benefits them. Why can the system not be improved to give fair representation to the masses? Why can the system not be improved to share decision making with experts, men of distinction, overseas Pakistanis, women and minorities? It is a shame that the joint session and the members present have failed to look at realities. The rule of the feudal and the rich is interpreted as democracy. Tax evaders and bullies compliment themselves by calling each other democrats. The economy is in a shambles. The middle class, the backbone of the nation, is being pushed into poverty. Basic facilities like power, healthcare, education and housing are out of reach. Remember the French Revolution started because the rich and clergy refused to pay taxes and the poor were starving. The monarchy was rejected. It faced the consequences and, finally, some years later Napoleon captured power and declared himself emperor.

So far, the armed forces have shown grace and have insisted the politicians solve their issues. The politicians have to wake up before it is too late. According to a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader, no serious discussion on the issues took place in the first 20 days of protests! If the government was competent and the monarch sensitive to the demands of the people the matter could have been sorted out four months ago but the monarch and his courtiers sneered, tried to suppress and kill, and underestimated the possible consequences. They are still hoping that the protesters will get tired, feel defeated and go home. The protesters are not showing any signs of obliging. A time approaches when the masses will lose patience. Even if some go home they will neither forgive nor forget because their friends have laid down their lives. Is that what the monarch and his courtiers want? If it is so then they are making the mistake of a lifetime. The negotiators must make a bigger effort and not just enjoy the media exposure that they are getting. Issues must be settled sooner rather than later, before the bushfire becomes a fire in the whole jungle. It is not a limited revolt, it is a revolution to change the quality of life and bring in better governance.

The writer is the former CEO Pakistan National Council of the Arts; chairman Fruit Processing Industries; chairman UNESCO Theatre Institute Pakistan and COO ICTV, USA. He is the author of Melluhas of the Indus Valley 8000 BC to 500 BC. He can be reached at naeemtahir37@gmail.com