Perhaps the easiest thing in our politics is to call someone ghaddaar (traitor) or kafir (infidel). The two words are frequently used by the self-proclaimed custodians of the ideology of Pakistan, and the religion of Islam for those they think less patriotic or less Muslims than them.
In the past, mostly those were labelled as traitors who used to have a soft corner for India while those opposing the jihadist policies of the state used to be dubbed as infidels.
Since no one likes to be called a traitor or an infidel in this land of the pure, the jihadist-propagandists thrived to the level where we see our governors being murdered by their own guards, ministers killed on streets and the strongest of all like the army chief refrains from issuing a word of condemnation lest that might anger the pro-religious in the country’s most disciplined institution.
Late Benazir Bhutto was called a ‘security risk’ by the so-called patriots who are now asking for bringing treason charges against the elected president and prime minister on the basis of a dubious paper.
From the founder of the nation Muhammad Ali Jinah, to the Awami National Party (ANP) leadership (both ghaddaars and kafirs) to Imran Khan, who is out to bring a tsunami of change with unchanged faces, they all faced the wrath of the so-called patriots and custodians of faith.
Most recently, it is the elected prime minister who needs to get an NOC (No Objection Certificate) to prove his patriotism. And the call for treason case against Gilani came from Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Shahbaz, whose elder brother Nawaz Sharif rushed to the Supreme Court (SC) on the memo case, needs to recall the post-Kargil days before pointing fingers at any of the names attached to the dubious memo issue raised by an American citizen Mansoor Ijaz.
Apparently, the motive behind taking the memo issue to the SC is to kill two birds with one stone — get rid of the present government and clip the wings of the army and the ISI before taking the reins of power in Islamabad.
True, but who knows what happens next, particularly when the rules of ‘might is right’ are in place and political loyalties are being changed overnight.
Looking at the rush of seat-winners to Imran Khan’s (so far) one-man show, can someone say for sure that Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N will be able to grab a clear majority even if the existing government is packed before time on charges of dictating the dubious memo to Mansoor Ijaz?
Javed Hashmi has already gone while several PML-N stalwarts (not mentioning other parties) are on the way out. It would be a blessing in disguise for Imran and his well-wishers if the court’s ruling in the memo case goes against the government.
The upcoming Senate election might be disturbing for the PML-N leadership, but the idea of mid-term polls will be more disturbing mainly because: a) politicians from all parties are jumping into Imran’s bandwagon b) Imran is more acceptable, to say the least, to the establishment c) Nawaz’s PML-N is certainly not in the establishment’s good books c) Zardari’s PPP will again become a martyr and may get the sympathy vote, and d) religious parties like JUI-F and JI (boycotted previous polls), whose agenda is more closer to the PTI than others, are likely to get more seats in parliament than their existing position.
In such a situation, the PML-N is unlikely to retain even the seat of opposition leader in the national assembly, let alone coming into government or winning majority in the Senate.
To save the day for the PML-N, the only viable option is to observe the Charter of Democracy that will stay the main parties away from a collision besides denying space to planted elements in parliament. How about several birds with one stone?
The writer can be reached at [email protected]