A friend with an agricultural background, with whom I walk, came up with an interesting theory. According to him a leader of a political party is like a tractor while the followers are trolleys that he has to pull. I was indeed impressed by his clear thinking regarding the old traditional parties (PML(N), PPP) butt the PTI is an exception.
As a tractor, Nawaz Sharif has been pulling his trolleys in the direction of making money, there is clarity of mission. Bhutto and his daughter Benazir had a desire to serve the masses so their trolleys were different. As Chairman of PPP, Asif Zardari has changed the direction of the party. Comrades like Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Dr Sadaqat Abbasi are either sidetracked or kicked out of the party. The trolleys that Prime Minister Imran Khan is trying to pull are sluggish and deflated. The electables in his cabinet have their own direction, making the journey difficult and painfully slow. In fact this bunch of evergreen politicians has succeeded in stalling change. No tractor can pull these trolleys, as their wheels are jammed with the status quo.
The 1970 electoral contest is repeatedly quoted as the only free and fair election, the rest being rigged. Recently in an interview, the US-educated Ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abassi proudly stated that they know how to steal elections. I am sure the ‘trolleys’ of thieves loaded with loot and plunder must be moving fast to cover their tracks with the ‘ Tractors ‘ absconding after completing their mission. Free, fair and credible elections continue to be a challenge for the Islaimic Republic. Despite being a constitutional democracy since 1973, the sacred, consensual document is not followed. The ‘trolleys’ only carry the load that suits them, while the ‘Tractor ‘ refrains from checking their merchandise. As a result the Islamic Republic of Pakistan remains directionless.
The 1970 election was unique in many ways. While the establishment remained neutral hoping for a split mandate, the two powerful ‘Tractors’ had set their course right. Mujib in the Eastern Wing wanted autonomy while Bhutto in the Western wanted social justice. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) had all the ‘Trolleys’ but Ayub Khan, their ‘Tractor’, had been dislodged and discredited by street protests. The ‘trolleys’ were stuck, ideologies prevailed. Election campaigns were carried out on foot or on bicycles. Some candidates managed to get refurbished old Willy Jeeps but nothing beyond that. Biryani and Qeemaywalay Naan had not been introduced. The ‘Comrades of Change’ worked long hours with bare minimum as they were impressed by Mao’s Long March of 1934-5 that liberated China.
Bhutto won big in the Western Wing with a clean sweep in Lahore. Dr Mubashir Hasan polled the highest number of votes. Baba-e-Socialism Sheikh Rashid and Mairaj Khaild were also elected from the city. Pakistan was moving in the right direction but unfortunately, the establishment was unable to handle the unexpected dynammics of the election outcome. Quaid’s Pakistan was dismembered. As leader of what remained, Bhutto started the rebuilding process with new ‘Tractors’ and ‘Trolleys’.
For a fresh start, the new ‘Tractor’ should opt for untainted fresh ‘Trolleys’. Expecting different results from the same people is a fallacy that has been repeatedly, but tried unsuccessfully. ‘Trolley’ change seems imminent as the ‘Tractor’s’ time is limited. The next elections are not far away, and 2023 is round the corner. While the ‘Tractor’s’ direction is correct, the ‘Trolleys’ seriously lag behind.
While Imran Khan continues to be the ‘Tractor’ of change, his ‘Trolleys’ are pulling him backwards. Clarity of ideology is required to determine the way forward. Pakistan needs a major course correction to bring the ‘Trolleys’ on track so that the ‘Tractor’ can march towards its cherished goal, the current push and pull cannot continue for long.
Bhutto termed his march forward ‘Islamic Socialism’ while Imran is committed to building a Welfare State on the lines of ‘Riasat-e-Medina. ‘Trolley’ change after his first term in office proved to be disastrous for Bhutto and his party. He was isolated from his ideological workers. There was no one to fight for him when he needed public support. His ‘Trolley’s’ joined with the new powerful ‘Tractor’ in uniform, leaving him to rot. Yasin Wattoo stands out as the perfect transferable ‘Trolley’. He was a Federal Minister in Ayub Khan’s cabinet, later he joined Bhutto’s party to become its Secretary General. Then he managed to become Finance Minister in the Junejo Cabinet. Such ‘Trolleys ‘ have given a bad name to politics and have caused immeasurable damage to the ‘Tractors’ that tried to pull them.
For a fresh start, the new ‘Tractor’ should opt for untainted fresh ‘Trolleys’. Expecting different results from the same people is a fallacy that has been repeatedly, but tried unsuccessfully. ‘Trolley’ change seems imminent as the ‘Tractor’s’ time is limited. The next elections are not far away, and 2023 is round the corner. While the ‘Tractor’s’ direction is correct, the ‘Trolleys’ seriously lag behind.
