By Qamar Bashir
Former Press Secretary to the President
Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC
Mr. Mustapha Khokhar, having been ousted by the People’s Party, has emerged as a beacon of clarity, articulation, and insightful analysis in the eyes of the media. He appears to be disenchanted and disheartened by the state of existing political parties, including the PPP and PMN(L), among others. He boldly dismisses the newly founded Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, firmly asserting that a political void exists and urgently demands the birth of a new political force. This force should prioritize the common public, making them the nucleus and raison d’être of the party’s existence.
According to him, these political giants offer no concrete plans or strategies to extricate the nation from its current quagmire. They offer no solutions to the abysmal financial and economic conditions plaguing the country. Hyperinflation runs rampant, prices soar to unprecedented heights, and people’s savings are rapidly eroded by an inflation rate exceeding 40%. Exchange rates oscillate wildly, further destabilizing the nation. The status quo persists, leaving the populace mired in uncertainty and despair.
The unyielding and unnatural trio of Mustafa Khokhar, Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi, and Mufta Ismael which eventually officially emerged, looks, albeit with uncertainty, united in their vision.
Abbasi has consistently and passionately championed a grand dialogue among all stakeholders, urging the heads of all pillars of the state, including the military, to come together and forge a clear and decisive path for the nation. His call for such a dialogue is not merely a suggestion; it is a resounding demand for a transformative dialogue that transcends politics, aiming to steer the nation towards a brighter future.
He passionately contends that the nation currently meanders aimlessly, with each stakeholder wielding their influence like a divisive cudgel, propelling the country in wildly opposing directions. This chaotic clash of interests has siphoned away the nation’s meager resources to serve personal agendas, rendering some obscenely rich while plunging the country into abject poverty. In this tragic narrative, the people are left destitute, bereft of life’s essentials.
He boldly asserts that the glaring failure of our current establishment, our politicians, the omnipotent establishment, intellectuals, and our entire spectrum of institutions is laid bare for all to see. It is an irrefutable fact that countries born alongside Pakistan, and even one that separated from Pakistan just a few years ago, have all surged forward with unprecedented progress. What’s astonishing is that they share the same genetic makeup, the same fundamental intellect, and the identical physical and mental attributes as us.
According to him, the stark difference lies in their leadership – pragmatic, guided by the rule of law and the constitution. These nations have undertaken comprehensive reforms across all sectors, with every institution driven by an unwavering commitment to operate within the boundaries of the constitution and the law. They’ve shown remarkable restraint, resisting the temptation to encroach upon the domains of other institutions, while unwaveringly prioritizing the supreme national interest.
Countries in our vicinity are surging ahead, marked by a steady improvement in public service delivery, a seamless integration of information technology, and a notable accessibility of the state, its institutions, and public services. Governments in these nations are swiftly transitioning from authoritarian rule to a service-oriented approach, geared to deliver essential necessities and civic amenities directly to their citizens’ doorsteps.
According to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, it’s not just his own party, PML(N), that has faltered, but a collective failure encompasses all political entities, the establishment, and the bureaucratic machinery. He appears to have learned the bitter truth that unless the establishment assumes a clear and declared role in overhauling our archaic, decaying, self-serving system, progress will remain a distant dream.
The establishment, wielding immense influence, possesses the power to summarily discard any notion, reform initiative, or plan conceived by politicians or civilian institutions, without a second thought. Their dominance extends beyond the realm of security, permeating businesses ranging from real estate, banking, cement, and defense production to agriculture, construction, transportation, golf courses, marriage halls, hotels, and virtually any sector one can imagine. They stand as the paramount stakeholder, exerting unparalleled influence and control across the spectrum, casting a long shadow over the nation’s affairs.
In light of this, he advocates that once the national agenda has been defined through a comprehensive dialogue involving representatives from all pillars of the state, including the military and politicians, the mandate to execute this agenda should be entrusted to a new political party. This party should be distinguished by visionary leadership and backed by a cadre of competent, intelligent, and renowned advisors of impeccable repute and caliber.
Abbasi firmly asserts that the national agenda should commence with a thorough reform of the Federal bureaucracy, which he describes as sluggish, unresponsive, and deeply mired in corruption. He also highlights the need to rationalize the distribution of national resources between the federal government and the provinces. According to his perspective, the 18th amendment and National Finance Commission awards have transferred a substantial share of resources to the provinces, rendering them affluent. Consequently, they avoid imposing taxes or levies, shifting the burden of tax collection onto the federal government.
This mismanagement leaves the federal government reliant on foreign lending agencies, the printing of currency notes, and substantial borrowing from banks. The outcome is a surge in inflation and the erosion of the hard-earned savings of the people, plunging millions below the poverty line and contributing to high unemployment rates. This unsettling scenario has led to growing unrest, anxiety, and despair that permeates society and the nation as a whole. It is a dire call for immediate and comprehensive action.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s recent actions have left many questioning his character. Despite passionately emphasizing the need for a new political party and painting a grim picture of the nation’s financial and economic state, he stopped short of actually quitting his current party. Instead, he tied his declaration to a series of consultations with PML(N) leadership, friends, relatives, and the anchorperson conducting the interview.
It became increasingly evident that Abbasi might be using this rhetoric as a form of political blackmail, pressuring PML(N) to either restore his lost prominence, which has seemingly shifted to Maryam Nawaz, or to fundamentally change the party’s approach. His stance shifted from a call for a new party to a demand for a transformation within his existing party – a shift from personality-centric politics to an issue-driven, people-centered approach.
The proposal for a new party raises several valid questions. What distinguishes this potential party from the slew of recently formed political entities? If we take Abbasi’s words at face value regarding the need for a new party, it’s worth noting that the conditions for such a party already seem to have been met with the establishment of two relatively new parties, Istehkam Pakistan Party and Tehreek-e-Insaf Patriot Party. Either the trio has deliberately ignored these parties, or they don’t consider them politically significant. Otherwise, instead of suggesting the formation of yet another new party, they might have thrown their weight behind one of these existing options.
Furthermore, it appears that the trio, whether out of naivety, ignorance, or perhaps a deliberate omission, have ignored the colossal elephant in the room—the omnipotent, assertive, and dominant establishment. This institution has mastered the intricate art and science of keeping all political parties, institutions, businesses, international relations, media, and even society itself under its firm control. Nothing in Pakistan can thrive unless they grant it permission to do so. Their modus operandi is nothing short of maverick. They can usher in a regime or political party with grandeur and fanfare, only to unceremoniously discard it at their whim, without a second thought. Then, they often resurrect a previously ousted party, perpetuating this cycle endlessly.
One must ponder the fate of a potential third new party formed by the trio. What if, within a matter of days or months, it falls out of favor with the establishment, even shortly after its inception? What if the establishment disapproves of its manifesto, vision, mission, or strategy, and coerces them to change it? And if they resist, what if they are made to disappear, erasing their very existence until they lose their sanity?
The question arises: Is this trio driven by genuine love for the people and the country, or are they merely seeking revenge against their respective parties for sidelining them?
Much like the fate of IPP and PTI(P), this yet-to-be-born party may suffer from stunted growth, stillbirth, or even a natural death due to a lack of support from the establishment. It could struggle to find a charismatic personality, lack public appeal, be devoid of electables, and suffer from an absence of the dirty money required to fund a party, its public campaigns, and media endeavors.
However, as is often the case in Pakistan, its success may hinge on the whims of the unpredictable winds which can blow at any time, in any direction, with or without reason.
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