Daily Times

“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride” is a popular proverb that very well fits into the situation our beloved country Pakistan faces at the moment. Here, a bunch of troublemaking individuals and groups has emerged out of nowhere with an aim to weaken the democratic system and topple one of the most popular civilian governments in the history of the country. The strange thing in this whole scenario is that instead of letting events take their due course and supporting their farfetched demand with logic and evidence, they are clamouring like an obstinate child for realisation of their unrealistic dream.

If we look at what is going on at the political front and discussed in the popular media, we find every other person talking about the fate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, and giving tentative deadlines regarding what they call its “imminent exit.” For example, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, whose party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, has only one seat in the national assembly, has a dream that the sitting government would pack up, and leave immediately after the Eid-ul-Fitr as if it is an extreme hurry to go somewhere. Similarly, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek head Allama Tahir-ul-Qadri, who is on his routine sojourn to Pakistan, has given the deadline of September for a change in the government without explaining how he has reached this conclusion.

No doubt, both these politicians and self-claimed leaders are known for making predictions that have never turned true, and therefore, should not be taken seriously. But what worries the proponents of democratic system’s supremacy is the fact that even seasoned political entities like the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) whose leaders have sacrificed their lives for democracy have also joined the bandwagon. They have paid heavy price of undemocratic change in the system more than once but yet they are playing in the hands of conspirators. One thing they are forgetting is that they enjoyed unprecedented support of the PML-N during their last tenure, something that helped them complete their five years in government against all odds. Many challenging situations arose but the PML-N, which was in opposition at that time, ensured that nothing was used against the democratic system that was slowly taking its roots in the country.

Now coming to the grounds on which some political parties and individuals are demanding the resignation of the prime minister and a change in the government, I would say they must first look within their ranks, and determine whether they have the moral authority to level baseless allegations and make strange demands. On one hand, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan is asking the prime minister to resign, though his name is nowhere in the list released under Panama leaks, and on the other, two owners of offshore companies — Jahangir Khan Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan — are among his most trusted courtiers. He is also forgetting that he himself set up an offshore company when not many of his countrymen had the slightest idea what an offshore company was.

The PPP that has also recently decided to jump on to Khan’s container has also come up with charges of corruption against the prime minister without realising that its own leaders have been punished by courts of Pakistan on graft charges. Is it a justifiable act on part of them to level allegations against the prime minister who has no case of corruption against him in any of the courts in the country? Having the reputation of running one of the most corrupt governments in the country, does the PPP has any justification to go for baseless allegations against another politician?

Here I would like to clarify that I am not supporting the PML-N, and defending the prime minister simply for the reason that I belong to this party; I have a valid reason to do this. The fact that the prime minister has offered himself for an impartial investigation about his alleged involvement in the Panama leaks scam, and invited the opposition parties for framing Terms of Reference (TORs) in this regard speaks volumes of his regard for democratic institutions and processes.

It is high time the opposition parties realised that any attempt at bringing a change in the democratic system through undemocratic forces and activities like dharnas (sit-in) and protests would backfire. The country has suffered heavily due to similar tactics in the past, and cannot afford to lose more, especially at a time when it is recovering from the damages caused by terrorism, and is now on the road to economic progress.

I believe only the people who have voted the PML-N to power have the right to remove it if they think their choice was wrong. But this is not the case as one can see how strongly they have reposed their confidence in the party during by-elections and local government polls. Different surveys including the one by Gallup have also shown that the support for the PML-N government has gone up with time.

And this support is not without reason; the PML-N government has excelled in the field of economic progress, and brought a positive change in the life of a common man. The energy crisis that had crippled the country for about one and a half decades will soon be over. It has also fared well on diplomatic front, and fostered strong relations with global powers. However, the jewel in its crown is the $46-billion CPEC agreement it has signed with China, which on its realisation will change the fate of the country and the region. There is a perception as well that the motive behind the recently announced agitation is to have a major stake in this multibillion-dollar initiative.

Having said this, I would like to pose a few questions to those playing to the tunes of undemocratic forces and suggest them to revisit their plans for their country’s sake. The questions are: do you think the international conditions allow for such adventurism? Will it be a prudent move on your part to destabilise the democratic system when a megaproject CPEC is underway in the country? Can the country afford isolation in the comity of nations that prefer to engage with democratic governments? And do you want to undo the recent achievements of a fledgling democracy in a country with a troubled political history. I am sure the answer will be a big ‘NO’ if they listen to their conscience and not their disractors.

The writer is a graduate of LUMS and currently serves as an MPA of Punjab. She tweets at @hinaparvezbutt