“Democracy cannot succeed
unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely.” –Franklin
D. Rossevelt. The third transfer of power to a democratic regime in Pakistan is
a milestone in the country’s history. However, once again religion held a
center-position in elections of 2018. Once more the political players of the
country resorted to religion to achieve their motives of political victory. The
conservatives, seculars and liberals all stood up for various seats in the
national and provincial assemblies and emphasized on religion, instead of on
ideologies. The history has witnessed how religion has been played at the helms
of individuals to influence masses. These maneuvers have gravely hindered
rational decision-making at the larger-level.
The religious political parties became more potent during the reigns of Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto and General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq due to the incapability of public
that could not differentiate between religion and politics. Unfortunately, it
was during 1970s and 1980 when the religious-based politics took roots in
Pakistan and led to outrageous religious sentiments and policies, paving way for
the Afghan war, Talibanisation and breakout of extremist groups pigeonholed and
radicalized elements in the nation. From the bird’s eye view it can be gauged
how religion was manipulated to attract masses and abject the political agenda
of secular parties.
In the elections of 2018, the persistency of this trend was notculled and anew
election campaigns were engineered centering religion. One more time,the
political candidates were embroiled into using numerous tactics in order to win
the vote of a common man by hurling political barbs on their competitors or
demeaning them on religious front. The move by Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz aka
PML(N) to amend the controversial law on religious minority- Ahmadi paved for
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) led by Khadim Hussain Rizvi to emerge in no
time,which also gave serious set-back to the party, as witnessed from the
results of 2018 polls.Throughout the polls TLP made enforcement of blasphemy law
a central plank in its campaign that grants automatic death penalty for anyone
deemed to have insulted Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. A number of other
religious parties also formed alliance under the banner of Muthaida
Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).Rather than putting forth their roadmaps of how these
parties will address woes of the nation they whipped up religious sensitivities.
Another trend observed during this election was emergence of independent
candidates. It is plausible that youngsters are now shoving aside their apathy
towards politics and are engaging in nation-building. The case of Jibran Nasir,
a young candidate from law background, would be worth mentioning in this piece
of writing.Jibran Nasir is changing the political discourse based on religious
hatred and sectarianism as he dismissed the notion of maligning religious
minorities in his campaigns. But as the number of supporters increased, so did
the violent backlash from Islamist groups. On one occasion,TLP targeted Nasir’s
campaign in Karachi’s Bizerta Lines area, tore his posters down, threw stones at
his rally and accused him of blasphemy, whilehe blew kisses back at them.Later,
at another campaign, he was forced to declare Ahmadis, an Islamic sect
excommunicated by the Pakistani constitution, as kafir (infidels) and curse at
them to which he refused.
Nonetheless,Imran Khan, a few days before elections’ rejected notions of
repealing the second amendment to the Pakistani constitution which declares the
Ahmadi community to be non-Muslims. His honesty and intentions, in terms of
running the State should not be doubted but regrettably in order to keep vote
bank alive these tactics are followed even by the preferred leaders of the
majority. This country has been ravaged by sectarian and ethnic strife, yet all
that the masses continue to ask if the political candidate can recite Kalma or
perform religious deeds. Candidates and parties are not evaluated based on
education, degree of corruption, political manifestos, projects initiated or
completed, economic plight and international relations. These events highlight
the intolerance in Pakistani politics and the extent to which the hate campaign
for Ahmadis is entrenched in it. People have been more interested in finding out
if the politicians abuse Ahmadis or they don’t.
Such inherent and open discriminations end up in a vicious cycle.Senior
politicians should now follow the suite of an independent candidate, who is
taking [a] stand and is indulging in politics on the basis of principles rather
than making religion as a tool for earning votes. If he has won a sizable vote
bank, the leading parties should also change their stance and promote peace and
harmony. This act will not only discourage frenzied mobs who go on rampages and
kill people at the mere suggestion that at an act of blasphemy has been
committed but will also eliminate incitement of violence among individuals.
To sum up, Pakistan, being a social-welfare state should work for providing
basic necessities to its people and progress in direction of ameliorating their
living standard, instead of engaging the hoi polloi into trivial debates. All
the institutions of the state need to fashion ways to address socioeconomic woes
and curb extremism and radicalized elements. The electioneering campaigns should
be strictly monitored to culminate religious incitement. While religion may not
be the only factor but it is a crucial factor in decision-making. Thus, it is
rudimentary to develop doctrines that would pave for better pluralistic and
prosperous future of the nation, free from religious manipulations.