While the public response to the anti-government rallies in Lahore and Rawalpindi on the 3rd of September organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), and Awami Muslim League has not been so overwhelming and spontaneous as the organisers expected, there is nevertheless a probability that things might take an ugly turn when the PTI and PAT, possibly supported by other political parties, stage the announced dharna (sit-in) in front of the private residence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. There are indications that these parties would go to any length to see the dismissal of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. There is already a discernible campaign to seek military intervention, as being openly demanded by Tahir-ul-Qadri and Sheikh Rashid with a nod of approval from Imran Khan. That clearly is an act of sedition in terms of article 6 (1 & 2) of the constitution that reads: “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason. Any person aiding or abetting (or collaborating) the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.” Inviting military intervention is tantamount to subverting the constitution. Who cares about the constitution, anyway? That is the way our politicians have been behaving and paving the way for dictatorial rules and military interventions with disastrous consequences in regard to strengthening of democracy and state institutions as well as rule of law in the country. It is a typical pattern. The demand for military intervention is being made by political ‘parasites’ like Sheikh Rashid and a religious scholar Tahir-ul-Qadri who has no political stake in the country, and is only here to play the role of a spoiler. The former has always thrived during the undemocratic dispensations or borrowed support from political leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan. He surely has no stake in the continuation of a democratic system. Khan is making a big mistake by forging alliance with them for which he might have to repent in the future. If he intends to remain relevant to the political landscape of the country he must revisit his strategy of besieging the private residence of the prime minister, or endorsing any calls for a military intervention. Unfortunately, some media persons and TV channels have also joined the chorus for intervention by the army. Perhaps politicians, media outlets and anchors demanding a military intervention feel encouraged by frequent statements of the COAS and press releases of ISPR on national issues, laced with ‘political’ overtones. Media as a representative of society is under obligation to uphold the constitution and support democratic rule in the country, because it is only during democracy that it enjoys unfettered freedom of expression. Polarisation of media and some media outlets becoming a party in the confrontation between political forces is indeed an ominous development, which can encourage non-democratic entities to make their move. I think media has lost its sense of proportion, and some sections of it have intentionally put blinkers on their eyes to perpetuate their partisan role. Is it not amazing that some of the channels have been and continue to have exclusive hour-long interviews of Sheikh Rashid to make their audience endure the ordeal of loud statements of a man who only has one seat in parliament, and even that courtesy of the PTI? There is surely something terribly wrong about this exercise. Tahir-ul-Qadri has non-political credentials but, surprisingly, he is also getting undeserved media coverage like Sheikh Rashid. The whole episode has an aura of a conspiracy like the previous agitation by the duo of Khan and Qadri when they staged a dharna in Islamabad. Qadri’s dubbing the prime minister as an ‘Indian agent’ and a security risk for the country is probably the most preposterous allegation made against a person who has thrice been elected prime minister, and whose party is the most popular political entity in the country. The PML-N government may have many shortcomings, but there is no denying the fact that it has to, a great extent, been able to tackle the formidable challenges it inherited. Terrorism has been checked in its tracks; economy verifiably has been revived; Karachi is fast returning to normalcy; insurgency in Balochistan has been contained; and government remains committed to take the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion, thanks to the supporting role played by the security establishment and law enforcement agencies that have rendered unprecedented sacrifices in defeating terrorists. They indeed deserve unqualified gratitude of the nation. It is said that the worst democracy is better than the most benign dictatorship. Pakistan’s salvation, progress and chances of earning a respectable place in the comity of nations lie in more and more democracy. Mohammad Ali Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a democratic entity. The march on the democratic path and consolidation of its gains largely depends on the state institutions strictly adhering to their constitutional role. Interventions and transgressions into the territory of other institutions invariably lead to chaos and disastrous consequences for the country. The people need to guard against the designs of those who are demanding a military intervention. It is also obligatory on parties represented in parliament to make sure that the system remains on course. The military establishment also needs to clear the haze by giving a shut-up call to those who are rooting for a military intervention, instead of embarrassing the government through frequent ‘indiscretions’, which also descend into the realm of a kind of intervention in the domain of the executive. The demand for a military intervention and attempts to destabilise the elected government through violent and unconstitutional means also constitutes an affront to the mandate of the people who are the ultimate arbiters in regard to who governs the country. There are no two opinions about the fact that Pakistan needs drastic changes in the system of governance. Those changes and reforms can only be brought through the forum of parliament. There is a need for all political forces to show their commitment and sincerity in reforming the system that breeds a culture of graft, entitlement and has inbuilt avenues of corruption, instead of rocking the ship of democracy. Panama leaks or no Panama leaks, corruption needs to be eliminated. But there has to be a constitutional and legal method to go about it. Even at present a number of avenues are available to the agitating politicians and parties to seek redress of their grievances, and they have already approached certain forums in this regard. It would, therefore, be advisable for them to stick to that course, simultaneously joining forces with other parties and government to reform the system. There is certainly no quick-fix solution available to fix the maladies afflicting the system or tackling corruption. The writer is a retired diplomat, a freelance columnist and a member of the visiting faculty of the Riphah Institute of Media Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com