Daily Times

The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has come true on its warning to strike at Pakistan and its campaign of striking at electioneering is in full swing in all provinces except Punjab. The ‘good Taliban’ rhetoric devised to gain a strategic ally in post-withdrawal Afghanistan, which came in the way of going all out against them, is taking its toll.

The brave political worker of the moderate and liberal parties is the immediate target but the real goal is democracy and the Pakistan of today itself. The TTP brand democracy and elections heresy, and yet they selectively target the activities of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentarians (PPP-P) and the Awami National Party (ANP) to help the parties of their choice into power by denying through terror the supporters of the moderate parties to come out and vote on Election Day. Their aim appears to be to let the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have a field day on Election Day. Apparently, the TTP wants its agenda of darkness implemented through them. The positioning by these parties on the most relevant issue for Pakistan today, i.e. terrorism, is so opportunistic that it makes one think if indeed their leadership has any mantle. They conveniently shift the focus to external factors, name foreign policy as the reason for terrorism and shy away from naming the real cause, i.e. the unbridled rise of extremist ideology so that they can justify their stance of not taking any action against them. Action against extremism or its advocacy requires a commitment that only the brave can demonstrate.

The PML-N is notorious for having formed election alliances with extremists and despite calling itself the Muslim League, its stance on so many issues is not in conformity with the stance of the founder of the nation. The name Muslim League carries appeal as Pakistan’s founding party and this is being intelligently used by many so-called Muslim Leaguers to get moderate votes while their own agenda is retrogressive. Not all in this party sympathise with the extremists but their voice never finds its way into party policy. Mr Ayaz Amir, who left the party not so long ago, is a perfect example.

As for the PTI, on a talk show conducted by Kashif Abbasi, the lady representing it was asked by PPP’s Shehla Raza on her party’s stance on the Hudood Ordinance. While Ms Raza had categorically said that the PPP would repeal it if it gains a majority, the PTI lady avoided the answer. Obviously, she did not want to lose the enlightened youth by saying they would keep it, and did not want to lose the radical support by saying they would repeal it. This coupled with Imran Khan’s request to the TTP not to bomb for a few days should be an eye-opener for all who have been moved by the outwardly liberal image the PTI carries and into believing that they are supporting a new Pakistan. Unfortunately, since Lahore is the power base of Khan, he targets the same vote bank as the PML-N, and this is the dilemma the PTI faces. It cannot talk liberal and vie for the right wing votes. If the PTI is indeed moderate, Khan has to take a stand on issues that are of concern to the vulnerable sections of society: women and the minorities. If he does that even at this late stage, it would augur well for democracy but it may put the PTI too in the line of fire of the TTP.

Fortunately, till at least the writing of this column when the TTP have succeeded in killing an ANP National Assembly candidate in Karachi, the terrorist strikes have not been able to take the life of any notable leader but the possibility of a strike on such a target is there. The PPP-P went into elections when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by terrorists. Forgetting the constituency wars for the greater good, all the moderate and liberal parties should resolve that come what may they will not boycott the elections. All the liberal parties must realise that doing that will be akin to handing the trophy to the TTP.

After a struggle of more than 65 years starting from the gift of Independence that Mohammad Ali Jinnah gave us and going through dictatorship, civil war and finally democracy, Pakistan is at a crossroads today. There are two paths to choose from. One is the easy path, the path of least resistance; the path of fatalism and ultimate despair, rule by tyrants and the Taliban and governance by terror. The other is the path of struggle and sacrifice; the path of hope and progress, in which the people of Pakistan find their identity in Jinnah’s vision and stand united with his ideas and dreams. In the context of elections, taking this path requires going out and voting for the parties that stand for freedom and liberty. Taking this path may be fraught with danger but the reward is a land of our dreams. Our decision will mark our destiny. The entire society must wake up and vote intelligently in a manner that their vote does not get divided so that the sympathisers of extremism in both the tribal and settled areas are wiped out from the corridors of power, this fatal disease is dealt with properly, and the country is freed from the malaise. Election Day is not a long weekend to enjoy but a day when all the enlightened people must go out and vote. This is the time to act.

On one side the parties that out of fear of the TTP or sympathy for it are happy with the situation should take note that unless they totally cave in to the TTP’s agenda and become one of them, the serpent of terror will ultimately also strike the timid. The TTP’s war is with any pluralistic system. To guard its political ambitions it cannot and will not tolerate dissent that any democracy, however weak, allows.

The writer can be reached at thelogicalguy@yahoo.com