Since the inception of Pakistan, the country has seen its politics taking the most tumultuous path. It regularly jumped between democracy and dictatorships and the nation bore the brunt of political instability. The last fourteen years of democratic dispensation have been both lucrative (economy and revenue generation) and most turbulent in terms of politics, political development, the outcomes to that effects often violence: ethnic, religious and political, and the fight against terrorism taking its final shape. Pakistanis that often bear the brunt are ordinary citizens who are already overwhelmed by poor socioeconomic situations such as poverty, dearth of socio-economic development and rising political disparities. Despite the constant rhetoric of all successive governments about their policies for sustainable development, the outlook of the country has continued to show ineptitude, poor political will, corruption and mismanagement. The development in Pakistan becomes more gripping in establishing the democratic ideals of sustainable development.
Although democracy has continued to nourish despite looming challenges in last one decade, its outcomes are still charged with failures and questions. The cacophony of politicians and political parties about their services for the nation has continued to grow. However, the impact of these services has been questionable for the dearth of direction and progress. The democratic setup in Pakistan has just succeeded in establishing mere political rhetorics. And the ordinary citizens are still in awe in comprehending the policies made to turn their days around. It all looks like a mirage, with the nebula of political magniloquence growing daily. Every successive government belonging to three largest political parties in Pakistan has added to this bombast.
Political rhetoric in modern democracy comes with inherent complexities: loud promises, unfathomable election manifestos, hundreds of speakers, sheer quantity of information and misinformation, variety of politicians and diversity of viewpoints. Understanding this extravagant political commentary before elections and during incumbent government tenures is a taxing exercise for ordinary people. The result is they get easily swayed by the political profligacy. Thousands of claims and charges both by party in government and parties in opposition take hold of the electronic as well as print media. And presently, the social media has surpassed in creating hyperbole of political clamor. Thus, the political parties seem to be more deeply concerned with establishing the political rhetoric than actual implementation of policies for sustainable development. The result of this democratic circus is the fatality of good governance and stability in Pakistan.
The reason for this current state of shambles is the use of political oratory to hide the failures. The governance is entirely a different department than the politics. It demands policies to be implemented according to capabilities and weaknesses of the state and not merely by agenda-driven politics.
The incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) with its dashingly learned and dramatically eloquent PM seems to be wining the marathon of political rhetoric. However, this win is happening at the expense of sheer confusion in governance of the state. The famous saying that one man’s food is another man’s poison is seemingly standing correct at the present façade of politics in Pakistan. The fight to win the political narrative is destroying the governance. But, who is to care when all at the helm of affairs in the country are content consciously and physically. The critical implications of driving the country by mere political bombast are comfortably being overlooked by the PTI government and more importantly the PM. For last three and half years in office, Imran Khan has been seen taking advantage of every formal and social event to propagate his illusionary political euphuism. The ‘All-is- Well’ pomposity is not only frustrating the citizenry but also infuriating it.
The use of eloquence dates back prior to the start of political career of Imran Khan. It even made him well-known at the political picturesque and win him the elections in 2018. However, the use of mere political rhetoric is fatal for the good governance and the progress of the country. The slogans of Naya Pakistan, accountability and Riyast-e-Madina now serve as mere cacophony for the ears of both supporters and neutrals. The country now stands at an unprecedentedly crucial point because of weakening economy, rising political partisanship, growing extremism and failing governance.
The state looks to be in sheer disarray and the failures are arriving in a speedy manner. The accountability conundrum is still as obscure as before, since the corruption at both ground and upper levels is sustaining. The Naya Pakistan is factually running behind the old Pakistan. The inflation is skyrocketing while the rupee is free-falling. And in the middle there seems to be the whole cabinet under captaincy of PM trying to catch the both by political rhetorics. The Riyasat-e-Medina which is mentioned in any and every addressal of Prime Minister is nowhere to be found. Every nook and cranny of the country seems to be in a sociopolitical chaos. The IMF is invading the country in a colonial manner.
The reason for this current state of shambles is the use of political oratory to hide the failures. The governance is entirely a different department than the politics. It demands policies to be implemented according to capabilities and weaknesses of the state and not merely by agenda-driven politics. The governance models are designed according to the circumstances and not to the populism. The accountability is implemented across the board in the country and not only to undermine political opposition. The religion is not used as a political agenda but to propagate peace and tranquility. Riyast- e-Medina was constructed on true pillars of Islam and not to be taken up on the existing edifice of western colonial system and 21st century capitalism. Even though, democracy is considered as a panacea against the challenges, however, only the democracy which delivers. And the current dispensation of democracy is failing to tranquillize the agitated citizenry of Pakistan.
