Daily Times

While the revolution is bid farewell and the revolutionaries return home, the uncertainty in politics in Pakistan is well in place, in fact, embossed deeper. The street power that was to change the style of governance of the country succumbed to style itself by acceding to the political culture of ‘reconciliation’ translated for the ordinary people by the leader of the Tehreek-e-Insaf as ‘muk muka (sleazy deals) politics’. However, what transpired in that container for five hours in the form of negotiations, albeit usual business in politics, established the fact that Pakistan has to come a long way before seeing its masses become a real power. Democracy, as was the buzzword, resonating in the corridors of power and among the crowd of revolutionaries assembled in Islamabad, was given a veiled representation in the eventual showdown of the melodrama.

The question is, were the people taken into confidence, talked to, shown importance and given representation before agreeing to a course that would bring an end to the sit-in of Dr Tahirul Qadri? There were announcements on every milestone reached: one, when the representatives of the government arrived; two, when the draft was sent for the PM’s signature, and three, when the draft was read out to the crowd. That’s it. The marchers were quickly turned into actual bovines, left to churn the cud, as they kept talking about democracy, free and fair elections and looters ousted from public office. Still unknown to reality, they were happy with the ‘container revolution’. Gradually, the crowd dispersed with a renewed hope that things would change. However, back at home, at work, it would still be no electricity, no gas, no water, no jobs and a struggle to earn a few more rupees to combat the unstoppable inflation. Those who bore the chilling weather, reconciling to reality that some things were as bad back home as on the Islamabad D roundabout, were suddenly not perturbed about what awaited them back home. Was it confidence in the leadership or was it a sign of immature followers that have yet to understand the wheeling-dealing of the political process in Pakistan and hence are used handily with short-lived promises?

To people generally in Pakistan, especially those coming from lower, lower middle and middle class backgrounds, democracy, free and fair elections and looters sent packing are tantamount to having a life free of inflation, load shedding and joblessness. Hence, anyone constructing reality around these facts is held up as a messiah. So was Dr Qadri. Irrespective of the fact that the demands Dr Qadri had put forward in the first place were not ‘demands’; they were merely emphasis laid on pressure points to get the desired results. The effect may not be visible to the naked eye, but the required process of healing may well have set in. Therefore, failing to differentiate between demand and pressure was the wrong admittedly committed by Qadri’s crowd, overburdened by the ordinary but essential unfulfilled demands of their lives. This explains the immaturity of these followers.

It was not the masses that staggered the government or the opposition, pulling the carpet from under their feet; it was the ‘strings’ and their source that had its effect. Tahrir Square was not the fear factor, because though leaderless, the crowd that gathered in Egypt in January 2010 was clear in its vision and had a focused reformative agenda. The crowd at the Islamabad Avenue was blurred and driven by a false narrative of revolution. Hence, a false sense of confidence and a blinkered political view of the scheme of things gave Dr Qadri his due share of being followed, heard, and admired by a large number of supporters.

It is completely normal for us to deny the truth, more so if it concerns politics. We have assumed a built-in association between politics and corruption. That gave rise to this recent quite non-political slogan of ‘siyasat nahi riyasat’ (state not politics). It was a direct reference to the behaviour of politicians given to political expediencies while making political choices. This slogan is carefully tagged to the character of politicians, which for all purposes is considered not in accordance with Article 62 and 63 of the constitution of Pakistan. That being the case, the only way the state is deemed saved from falling to pieces further is to get rid of this bunch and develop a system that would automatically sift the bad from the good, giving way to the good to climb the throne of power. Not a bad idea either. Who would not need a political system cleansed of bad politicians? Who would not need a system that does it automatically rather than any foreign or barracks solution to do this for us? There could not be two opinions about this theory of corrective measures, especially to put the house in order. However, how does one go about a solution to any problem determines the effectiveness and consequences of the outcome desired. That Dr Qadri wanted the looters out of Pakistani politics and had been giving deadlines for their ouster at every breath he took during his long march was not only nonsensical but comic. Perhaps that is why he chose to call himself a revolutionary rather than a reformer, for he sought an instant and even a bloody solution for the political problems of the country. A reformer on the other hand is patient and gradual in his approach. However, in the case of staging a revolution, whom he had in mind to occupy the empty throne is still unknown. Which class would be overthrowing the existing ruling ones had remained shrouded in mystery. If he was looking at the present lot, surviving the energy shortfall and exceeding inflation, then the maulana-turned-doctor needs to rethink and introspect on the role of a nation’s collective character that plays an important and decisive role in assembling the needed energy and gusto to stage what is called a revolution.

This is a nation of weak internal energy. Look into the eyes of a normal person; ask him to do something for you; tell him to walk a mile with you or alone; set him a goal and then see. You would end up confused. The clarity of purpose is missing. Maybe that is why it was easier to get them rolled out for Dr Qadri’s agenda. Article 62 and 63 can only become a possibility if they become part of the nation’s character building, the eventual sprouting place of national leaders. Is Maulana Qadri ready to forsake his Canadian comforts to emancipate the nation gripped in myriad fears and give them first the internal energy that would not only showcase them as docile followers but a force that means business? Eventually, it is these people who would decide the fate of this country through their votes. The learned doctor was on a wrong mission at the right time.

The writer is an Assistant Editor at Daily Times and can be reached at durdananajam1@gmail.com