Daily Times

Long marches and sit-ins are the last thing an already chaotic and impoverished Pakistan needs. So, I was indignant when the marches by Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan began. More than two weeks in, their demands remain unmet but they have been dramatic catalysts in changing the mindset, opinions and expectations of Pakistanis. We learned the importance of the first information report (FIR) and how it is a charge with serious consequences. Two and a half months after the Model Town tragedy and much crying hoarse by Dr Tahirul Qadri, the FIR was finally lodged, naming the brothers Sharif in the murder, mayhem and terrorism of that sad day.

A person is only as good as his advisers. Nawaz Sharif would not score well on an IQ test but his political demise will be from the counter-intuitive advice he gets from his cabinet. Petrified of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s arrival and agenda, they legitimised a man who was viewed pretty much as a crazy cleric. And they introduced the syndrome of ‘containeritis’ in Punjab to prevent PAT and PTI fans from reaching Islamabad.

The remarkable discipline of PAT workers and their heart-warming simplicity and dedication make it difficult to believe that they are Pakistani. The widespread support of Imran Khan was seen in the PTI protests and sit-ins across the nation. Undoubtedly, Dr Tahirul Qadri is an orator. With complete control over history, theology, politics and the constitution, he is adept in building an argument and bringing it to a skilful climax.

Anxious to see a resolution to the political crisis, millions of Pakistanis at home and abroad have been captive audiences of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s and Imran Khan’s speeches. Pakistanis had become accustomed to the corruption of its recent democratically elected rulers but learning of the alleged magnitude of the Sharif clan’s corruption makes one angry. Former president Zardari was infamous for being Mr 10 percent; the corruption within just one year of the Nawaz government has raised the commission in mega government projects allegedly to 30 percent.

The rebellion of the Islamabad police was also stunning. First, the Senior Superintendent Police (SSP), Mohammad Ali Nekokara, refused to use force on PAT and PTI workers. So they called in SSP Ilyas who also declined. Finally, Asmatullah Junejo agreed to clean out the red zone. Over 780 police officers refused to use force on the protestors and over 2,000 police officers went to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic (PIMS) hospital urging doctors to grant them medical leave.

Who would want to tear gas unarmed civilians and shoot at them with supposed rubber bullets, killing two and injuring over 500? The horrific police brutality on the personnel of several television channels was nauseating. Minister Saad Rafique said police brutality was unjustifiable and he did not know why it was happening. How about it happened because the order went out by the government and was caught on wireless? More jaw dropping was Nawaz Sharif reminding Chaudhry Nisar during a parliament session to specifically mention a private media group in the government’s apology. Nisar had the good sense not to. The media group’s personnel were the only ones that were not attacked. Nawaz Sharif exposed his affiliation with that media group and his IQ, or the lack of it, further.

Yazidi tactics were seen as well. The supply of water and food to the protestors was stopped, cars bringing them in were damaged and food and water were consumed by the police! Nawaz Sharif asking Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif to mediate the crisis and then lying about it, storybook style, on the parliament floor is egregious. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement that Nawaz Sharif had asked for the mediation.

The word democracy is bandied about by the government to hold onto power. The charge of murder and terrorism in the Model Town tragedy and violating the sanctity of parliament by blatantly lying are more than sufficient to be cause for an automatic resignation under the most basic premise of democracy. That parliament passes resolution after resolution supporting Nawaz Sharif means nothing when one member can vie with another in the magnitude of their respective looting of taxpayer money and self-enrichment, and providing cover to each other. The Urdu aphorism really sticks: iss hammam mein sab nangey hain (in this public bath they are all naked).

The day the crisis reached a head and the protestors moved toward the prime minister’s house almost everyone was convinced of an army intervention. And this is the most important change in Pakistan’s politics. What was reflexive previously did not happen, and is unlikely to in the future. Imran Khan is correct in demanding institutional rather than cult-oriented perversions of democracy. He gives the example of Switzerland where the prime minister’s name is not well known; Swiss institutions and processes run the country democratically.

Demanding the resignation of Nawaz Sharif does not destroy democracy, it strengthens it. For the longest time, Pakistan has been hostage to personalities rather than creating processes and building institutions. Pakistan’s kursi (throne) is magical; it can turn a sufi into Satan. The brothers Sharif and sycophantic parliamentarians painted the PTI and PAT as terrorists violating the sanctity of parliament. Video evidence, beamed across the world, of Chaudhry Nisar and PML-N workers scaling the walls of the Supreme Court (SC) exposes their hypocrisy and is irretrievably incriminating.

Quite the parliamentary metamorphosis was members vehemently condemning Nawaz Sharif. The 2013 elections were rigged and the government is involved in massive corruption was the chorus by PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan and MQM’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Had the dharna (sit-in) and their demands not happened, parliament would not have recorded this.

The brothers Sharif are desperate now. The old British maxim of divide and rule is being employed. PTI members are being enticed to jump ship and Imran Khan’s situation is also getting difficult. Dr Tahirul Qadri has asked for school and entertainment supplies for the children in the sit-in, suggesting a long haul, but his negotiations with the government are said to be promising. Whether the PTI’s and PAT’s demands are met or not, Pakistanis must applaud Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan for suddenly transforming Pakistan’s socio-politics. We have been empowered in demanding pristine elections, removal of corrupt legislators, absolute personal integrity in the government and the smooth carriage of justice. And the brothers Sharif should go. Better to leave with grace than unceremoniously. Your political careers are over.

The writer specialises in addiction and family medicine. She can be reached at mahjabeen.islam@gmail.com