Daily Times

In Pakistan, jumping on bandwagons for expedient political gain still passes for ideological substance. This is understandable to a certain extent. After all, the country has traditionally oscillated between khaki and non-khaki rule. Yet as both state and citizenry move ahead after a decade of democracy, the time has come for parliamentarians to look beyond the civil-military dichotomy. Not because it is unimportant. But in order to consolidate ideology-based politics.

One man is doing just this. Khadim Rizvi and his Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) have been catapulted into the mainstream. Ever since Rizvi, who staunchly believes that ‘blasphemers’ deserve to lose their heads, demonstrated a keen acumen that saw him exploit the careless PMLN misstep on Khatam-e-Nabuwwat. His strength, in terms of crowd-pulling, did not go unnoticed by Imran Khan; even if the Faizabad sit-in was devoid of live DJ sets and private containers. Indeed, the PTI supremo cautioned the then government that his own party members had wanted to join the TLP dharna; given that the sensitive matter of the finality of the prophet-hood had proceeded beyond the realm of politics.

This is a theme that has stayed with Imran. Indeed, the man who sees himself as Prime Minister in-waiting was keen to bring it up again at a rally at the end of last week on his ‘home’ turf of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sheikh Rasheed, his sidekick, also got in on the act by tweeting that Nawaz Sharif had come undone because he had insulted both Allah and the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

All of which is most regrettable. Not least because it suggests an overwhelming laziness that is drawn to the lowest common denominator as a means of playing to the cheap seats. When religion becomes an instrument of state power, under a system of parliamentary democracy, it falls to lawmakers to ensure that this is not co-opted to fuel sectarian fires; particularly in return for swing votes.

As Pakistan heads to the polls, the leadership across the great divide ought to focus on the urgent issues of the day. Such as, the impending water crisis; loadshedding; illiteracy rates and striving towards universal primary education; establishing affordable housing that will take people off the streets; and the apparent escalation of child sex abuse. Or failing all this, attention could simply be diverted towards launching a party manifesto in a timely manner. The point being that this is an Islamic Republic, thus the matter of Khatam-e-Nabuwwat and other religious tenets enjoy constitutional protection.

In short, there is no need for such political opportunism. Indeed, the best way to undercut PMLN votes at this late stage, while keeping recent developments in mind, would be to offer constituents a solid mandate as an alternative. But what is most definitely not required is throwing certain minority groups under the proverbial bus. For if this continues, those who have promised to fight corruption wherever it may be will find themselves in the dock. With innocent blood on their hands.

To be sure, this should be no one’s idea of a Naya Pakistan.  *

Published in Daily Times, July 8^th 2018.