Importance of internal stability for Pakistan is growing more with every passing day. Poly-crisis triggered with irresponsible confrontational strategy of major political parties have not diminished yet. Saner quarters are repeatedly advocating for resolution of political differences through dialogue. Prolonged absence of dialogue has badly affected the political culture and performance of the parliament. Hostile effects of this deficient political virtue are spreading in societal body like a lethal infection. Our politicians and analysts often point out the necessity of dialogue to iron out the differences on matters of national interest. This aspect doesn’t require extra explanation that dialogues are supposed to take place among the political parties through the elected or entrusted public representatives. Interestingly, leader of the former ruling party has repeatedly refused to engage in any kind of dialogue with three major political rival parties. Reasons best known to the founding party chairman who happened to be the former PM as well, rest of the party leaders are toeing the same line without showing even the slightest sign of difference. How undemocratic or irrational this conduct may appear as compared to the universally acknowledged norms in contemporary world, here in Pakistan, such blind devotions help in improving the standing in political party. Something stranger than this has surfaced in the top tier of same party. Imprisoned party chairman has made a dialogue offer to the military leadership. No one in the party has dared to seek any sort of clarification from the party chairman. How this will materialize? Why in first place, party should engage the institute of armed forces in political dialogue? How party can defend and justify this apparently unconstitutional proposal in front of public and political rivals?
Present government and her allies are almost in absolute state of confrontation with the formal ruling party PTI. Every matter, which could be resolved at the floor of parliament through dialogue, has been taken to the courts. Non-flexible political leadership and their blind followers have started gauging every development with the lens of respective party interest. As the saying goes ‘A basic tenet of a healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency’; lack of dialogue indicates the undeniable sickness of our democracy. Larger dysfunctionality of the parliament should not be taken lightly as it is not only about the inefficiency of a particular government rather a reflection of more worrisome gaps in the democratic system. Ground performance of governments in center and provinces during last fifteen years remained much below the expectations of their respective voters. Ironically, hardships faced by the public are not getting due space in political debates taking place at various platforms on daily basis. Likewise, dozens of spokespersons representing various political parties in talk shows also prefer to thrust upon rhetoric instead of the issues affecting public. No durable solution can be found without correct diagnosis of multidimensional crisis confronted by the nation. Worsening crisis of stability is outcome of decades long failures in policy and governance domains. An informal but popular public consensus prevails that elected governments should allocate most of the energies to improve upon the following grey areas.
One, Rapid rise in inflation has made the survival almost impossible. Common masses are unable to meet the ends due to unaffordable cost of edibles, electric bills, fuel prices, medicines and education fees. Two, menace of terrorism is resurfacing with obvious negative impacts on strategic projects and investment prospects. Three; political polarization, confrontation with state institutions, protests and sit-ins with unreasonable demands, ethnic and sectarian violence have multiplied the impression of chaos across the country.
Four, negligence on accountability and intentional politicization of national institutions are the common traits of every ruling regime. Five, non-acceptance of election defeat and unfavorable court verdicts has deeply dented the systematic functioning of the state.
Six, political parties largely forget the promises made with the masses after forming government. Manifesto usually remains a pre-election ritual with minimum emphasis on ground implementation. Seven, hereditary grip and cult style blind following of party leader is a normal practice prevailing in political parties. This medieval tendency is absolutely detrimental to the democratic system of the country.
It is about time, our political leadership should stop hiding respective failures with fabricated victimhood rhetoric, accusations on rivals and exploitative deals with state institutions. Dialogue must be preferred over undue confrontation to take the country out of the dark pits of chaos. With a changed approach, political leadership can positively contribute to put the Pakistan back on the track of stability. However, our mighty leaders should prefer engaging in dialogue with the political rivals with this relevant saying in mind ‘In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change’.
