Everyone has tried everything and we are not making a move forward. Those who have power exercised all their power and those affected, registered their indignation, protested and had their voices heard. Lines were crossed by everyone. Do we still plan to wrestle or can we afford to wrangle anymore? No doubt, those who have power can exert more power and those on the receiving end may continue to endure. Are there any winners? If anything, Pakistan is losing fast. Even our enemies are gleefully wondering whether Pakistan needs enemies at all.
Let’s be objective. There are two antagonists. Establishment (top leadership) and Imran Khan. Is this a match up? Not at all. What are the odds? 100-0. So who is at the giving end? Naturally, establishment. Why IK is not budging? He is jailed and resilient (stubborn), hence to break the ice, someone may have to step over the barrier of ego and approach him.
Why establishment’s ego is so high? It has been apolitical for as long as we know. Much talked about tag of US slavery is not a recent phenomenon but first Pakistani leader to ask for US Aid of 2 Billion USD in 1948 was Muhammad Ali Jinnah which was refused. Please Google before unleashing on the scribe. Then Liaqat Ali Khan shared fake Russian invitation letters with USA, seeking their kind attention which he did get. Rest is history. Fabrication and manipulation is synonymous with our history, so is our sense of patriotism which has to stay within the parameters set by establishment. As long as establishment remains politically active (covertly or overtly), the problem will persist. It has become an addiction and its political wing is turning into a Frankenstein. The combination of power, control and money is making it even so hard to let go of this addiction. Won’t be factually incorrect to call establishment an elephant in the room.
2022 regime change was significant event in our recent political history. A tale of miscalculations by both parties. Serious miscalculation was on establishment’s part not to factor in the role of social media in new settings of social and political milieu. Besides, the alternative in PDM was not short of a disaster. Growing economic crisis further aggravated the situation. IK and his team particularly social media managers used these grey areas to their advantage. Along with zealots, mischievous and spiteful elements jumped on his bandwagon. Obviously, those who held grudge against establishment like recently punished ex servicemen made a meal of the situation. Venom spitter Vloggers minted millions from YouTube. Political rivals of PTI also had a field day. At the same time, many mice jumped off when they sensed sinking of PTI’s ship.
Going back in time, IK and his political rise had been an establishment project. Things were hunky-dory as long as they got along. Reverse of fortunes took place when they found him redundant. His parachute entry into PM House was indebted to establishment’s push through its pawns in IK’s ranks. Thanks to establishment, an unhappy divorce (b/w Estb & IK) puffed life into dying politics and popularity of IK. List of his blatant mistakes is long. Significant ones include relying on electables (snakes up his sleeves), stubbornly sticking to Buzdar and likes and on many counts trying to bite more than he could chew. His inadvertent mistakes were an attempt to take on mafias in Pakistan all at once, breaking away from international establishment, saying no to Israel and not to mention ‘absolutely not’. Above all, knowingly or unknowingly locking horns with the establishment. Result is obvious.
Project Nawaz Sharif is not working as it stands which means delay in elections unless favourable results are guaranteed. But there are international commitments and obligations. In absence of substantive cases, strategy to technically knock out IK is not working besides his growing popularity among masses is giving headaches to establishment so much that vain lowly attempts on his bedroom stories are being made. No matter how he achieved it, he is popular. His popularity is another elephant in the room.
Now we see two popular elephants in the room. One armed other jailed. Even if convicted (unless hanged), same judiciary under new establishment will acquit him. Why not reconcile now? Historically, Pakistan’s growth under establishment had to do with US Aid due to geopolitical factors like Cold War, Afghan War and GWOT. Now, there is no such thing happening that qualifies us to pocket dollars from US unless something big is in the offing, like Sino-India war or equivalent. Money promised from Gulf States is a long shot. It will take time before we see its dividends. We are left with China and CPEC. A bird in hand is better than two in the bush.
To conclude, reconciling with China and IK are our two viable options to move forward. Lt Gen (R) Naeem Lodhi whom I regrettably have given real tough time on social media. Later, I realised that those thriving on present environment of extreme hate like Haider Mehdi who called him a snitch, don’t like sane voices of reconciliation. Establishment must pay heed to his mediation offer between Estb & IK. Political, economic and security stability can come only through this course of action.
May Allah protect Pakistan (from its enemies and inconsistencies, incompetence and arrogance of Pakistanis). Ameen
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