Daily Times

The sordid misconduct of parliamentarians, political elite and the political parties that we witnessed on the day of Senate elections was not surprising at all; it was predictable and was a direct result of the engineered political change in Balochistan.

Disproportionality in number of seats bagged by political parties contrary to their assembly representation speaks volumes of their corruption.

It can be rightly said that almost every political party indulged in immoral and illegal methods to secure a seat in assemblies.

Democratic struggle in Pakistan has always revolved around supremacy of the Constitution and adherence by state institutions to the limits defined by this constitution.

Despite the fact that the present political struggle of Nawaz Sharif is driven by self-interests, it is conceptually based on the supremacy of constitution.

The Constitution indispensably defines the Parliament as a bicameral federal legislature that consists of the National Assembly and the Senate.

It is ironic that the demands for the supremacy of the Constitution are being on the streets by the supporters of the ousted prime minister while the incumbent members of the Parliament are indulging in opportunistic politics.

The spirit of both the Constitution and the Parliament remains impaired and damaged.

Senate is one of the two major and most powerful constitutional pillars of the state. Bad quality of ingredients and faulty process can never give the desired product. There is an undeniable dichotomy in the constitutional spirit of the senate and the process adopted for selection of its members to demonstrate or manifest this spirit. Regrettably, it was more of a Saturday Bazar than senate elections shamelessly negating growth, maturity and credibility of our democratic institutions, political elites as well as the parties even after 10 years of uninterrupted democracy. I put six questions to the stake holders and the nation for a soul searching.

First off, Can it be termed as an individual act? Definitely not! It was conceived; conceptualised, strategized and implemented at higher tier of each party. Participation percentage of political parties in the bidding process, manifestation in all four provincial assemblies, similarities in methods and tolls of biding reinforces argument of an institutional approach. More importantly, act was not instantaneous but deliberate.

Secondly, can it be neglected and overlooked on the pretext of politics? Probably not! It is the political manoeuvring which is recognized and referred to have no bounds in mature democracies but the methods used and tools employed in support of these manoeuvres do have moral, constitutional and even legal bounds in all developed democracies.

Third! What kind and intensity of damage has taken place? Most importantly, public trust stands betrayed. Spirit of the constitution definitely stands undermined, disgraced and dishonoured, if not abrogated, subverted or held in abeyance as specified in Article 6.

Fourth, what implication it shall have on democracy in foreseeable future? Significant! The process has direct bearings on the forthcoming general elections. Manifestation may vary but all ways, means and methods will be adopted to win the numbers.

It is ironic that the demands for supremacy of the Constitution are being made on the streets by the ouster premier’s supporters, while the incumbent members of the Parliament are indulging in opportunistic politics

Fifth, Is it only the responsibility of the respective political parties only to take remedial measures or some similar voice raised by the senate committee for punishment to the honourable members and is there any state or institutional mechanism to prevent, check and control the conduct of such mal practices? Ironically, no one in the state mechanism is ready to take the lead.

Probably, in the eyes of political institutions, it’s a minor offence or a past precedence which manifested more intensely this time around. Others are probably constrained either due to the prevailing geo political and domestic environment or other institutional compulsions.

They are still hopeful about political leaders and their allies in parliament who directly or indirectly have been and are party to the shameful happening?

Sixth and most important! Who will give a quantified judgment over the intensity of damage and its remedial measures including accountability mechanism? The Honourable Chief Justice of the apex court has even sworn publically to uphold democracy in the country. Is it only the military rule which is sole threat to its continuation or nourishment?

The honourable apex court has refuted recent legislation by the parliament considering it against the spirit of the constitution. However, those custodians of the parliament like speaker nation assembly and few others escaped unpunished and un-admonished. Similar trend is likely to prevail by punishing the committer without any action against conceiver, strategiser, financer and ultimate benefiter.

Smooth, unchecked and unaccountable conduct of corrupt political practices validate the fairness of all employed means to achieve desired ends thus making politics at par with love and war in Pakistan.

Areas like political instinct and political planning skills if combined with experience and dovetailed with cunning approach hinged on corrupt practices, reinforced by effective tools and void of morality, trust and ethics becomes success recipe of the future. Is it acceptable? If yes, then for how long?

The writer is a PhD scholar with diverse experience and international exposure. He possesses conscious knowledge about phenomenon of terrorism and extremism coupled with realistic understanding of geo political, social and security environment

Published in Daily Times, March 10^th 2018.