Way forward is to seek a fresh mandate from people

One year down the line, on February 8, 2025, Pakistan’s democratic mosaic stands colluded with ultra vires interventions. The first thing it reminds me of is the maneuvering of executive-driven Form 47 over ballot-generated Form 45 at polls, and the adamant attitude to put at the helm losing candidates over those who clinched the mandate. That was quite unbecoming of democracy, per se. It is, however, in vogue to this day and is extracting a toll in the form of political instability, economic meltdown and social discord in the national milieu.

There has been no course-correction to stem the rot. Rather, the policy prescription of the coalition government is to hoodwink public opinion, and it has been at ease in suppressing the opposition. The parliament, judiciary and media have remained subdued, and have done little to make their presence felt in upholding their constitutional role and vitality.

The PTI is pushed to the wall, and the lone voice of defiance in the form of former PM Imran Khan is muted and incarcerated. Moreover, the PTI is infected with divisions and has lacked a strategy to stay afloat. Likewise, the joint opposition’s Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan is a non-starter.

The civil society, lawyers, intelligentsia, women rights bodies and student associations are conspicuous by their absence. That has not pushed the envelope of political activism in influencing the government to respect dissent and pluralism, leading to a sense of disgust as doors of remedy have been literally shut down.

A number of steps taken by the government in the previous year have bred discontent. The arm-twisting on the part of ECP tops the list, as it has refused to comply with any of the superior judiciary dictums when it comes to providing a level-playing field to the opposition. The election tribunals at high courts are in disarray, and no headway has been made in hearing out electoral grievances in the stipulated timeframe as enshrined in the Constitution.

The non-implementation of the July 12, 2024 majority verdict of the Supreme Court is another case in point, which goes on to deny the eligible share of reserved seats in legislatures to the PTI.

A number of unconstitutional measures, likewise, such as Senate composition remaining incomplete without its due from K-P legislature, the questionable ‘election’ of incumbents to top constitutional offices such as the Presidency, and lingering of petitions in the Supreme Court seeking a judicial review have complicated the situation.

These all need to be fixed to let the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law prevail. The prolonged detention of political prisoners, denial of justice in real time, and vexing the independence of judiciary through the 26th amendment have brought things to a head-on.

The year has also seen a spike in terrorism and unbridled intrusion of disgruntled elements from across the western frontiers rightly dubbed as ‘frenemies’ by the army chief. The armed forces are engaged in an existential fight and are rendering invaluable sacrifices for the nation. Moreover, discriminatory sanctions on missile programmes and suspension of aid to Pakistan pose grave challenges in foreign policy.

Coupled with this enigma is the economic downslide as exports have hit rock bottom, projected GDP growth has been slashed and debt-servicing is staring us in the face. Adding to the unrest is the unnecessary tweaking of laws relating to freedom of speech and press under the re-amended PECA, and rampant interference in manipulating the seniority of superior judges.

Pakistan is in dire need of political stability and economic growth. That can only be done by putting the house in order, and the first baby step is to start a two-way dialogue and let political segregation come to an end. Releasing political prisoners and kick-starting civil supremacy by going back to the people for a fresh mandate is the way to go. Ego and prejudice from all the concerned must take a backseat to usher in consensus. That is a must for our survival and sustainability as a nation.