Canceling the opponent
THE Indian parliament recently witnessed the en masse suspension of 146 opposition MPs, including apparently one who was on sick leave. The severe measure by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handpicked presiding officers in both Houses, marked a new low for the world’s most populous democracy. The MPs were merely seeking an explanation from the government for a security breach in the Lok Sabha when two men jumped into the busy House from the visitors’ gallery and released yellow gas from canisters. They demanded jobs and an end to ‘authoritarianism’. The men and their two associates arrested outside parliament claim inspiration from India’s freedom movement hero Bhagat Singh. Except that Bhagat Singh did not get an entry pass into parliament from a ruling party MP, as the two apparently did.
That the incident happened on Dec 13, the anniversary of the 2001 botched terror attack on parliament, made the episode poignant and a curious one. Home Minister Amit Shah has avoided taking blame. The government, while not heeding demands to explain the security lapse, has unleashed its brute majority to suppress the voice of elected politicians. Earlier, in the winter session that ended on Thursday, the Lok Sabha Speaker expelled Mahua Moitra, the outspoken woman MP from West Bengal. She was accused among other unproven charges of accepting money to ask questions. Ms Moitra says she was targeted for criticising a tycoon close to Mr Modi. Something about the political grooming of South Asian democracies propels them too often to cancel the opponents rather than putting their rivalries to a free and fair vote as is required of all democracies. Too many prime ministers and presidents have been deposed or assassinated, polls cancelled, and opposition leaders jailed in almost every South Asian country. India was regarded as at least the more resilient of the region’s troubled democracies. The fabled reputation appeared to be upended last week.
Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2023
TTP support
THROUGHOUT the outgoing year, the state has struggled to address the resurgent terrorist threat, with the high-frequency attacks taking a major toll, particularly on our security personnel. Most of these attacks have been linked to the banned TTP, or its Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan avatar. While it is primarily the state’s responsibility to deal with terrorist threats no matter what their point of origin, the end result of counterterrorism exercises can be negatively affected when militant groups have havens or supporters beyond Pakistan’s borders. The state has for long expressed its dissatisfaction with safe spaces provided to the TTP in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Now, it has also highlighted India’s apparent role in supporting the terrorist outfit. While speaking at a recent UN Security Council meeting, Pakistan’s ambassador to the multilateral body Munir Akram said there was “clear evidence” the TTP was receiving support from “our main adversary”, without naming New Delhi. He also called for an international probe to determine how sophisticated weapons got into the hands of the TTP. Most of this gear appears to be leftovers the US-led military force dumped in Afghanistan as it headed out before the Taliban takeover. The head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan supported some of Pakistan’s assertions, particularly the fact that “the Afghan de facto authorities have done too little to contain the TTP”.
Pakistan needs to continue to use multilateral fora, as well as bilateral channels, to impress upon the Afghan Taliban that either anti-Pakistan terror outfits be put out of business, or they be prevented from launching attacks in this country. As for Indian involvement, the state has previously also raised this issue. When the Western-backed regime was still in power in Kabul, military and civilian authorities had said they had ample evidence linking India to anti-Pakistan terrorist outfits — including the TTP and Baloch separatist groups — active in Afghanistan. A dossier containing details of India’s malign activities targeting Pakistan was submitted to the UN in 2020. The matter needs to be handled firmly, yet tactfully. India must be communicated in no uncertain terms that the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities will not be tolerated by Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Taliban must be told that hostile third countries should not be allowed to use their country to harm Pakistan, or else bilateral ties will suffer.
Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2023
Hollowed out
PAKISTANI politics has been marred by the spectre of political engineering, a strategy employed to manipulate poll outcomes. This phenomenon is particularly prominent just before elections. Our political history unveils a short-sighted pattern of power dynamics being shifted to favour certain parties or individuals, at the cost of democratic principles.
Gen Ayub Khan is known to have first manipulated the polls in his electoral contest against Fatima Jinnah in 1965. Another instance dates back to 1977, when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, allegedly attempted to get elected unopposed with the abduction of a rival candidate. Such tactics, including election day rigging to ensure a landslide, were responsible for the movement that led to his downfall.
The 1990s marked an escalation in political engineering. The year 1997 witnessed Nawaz Sharif’s ascent to power with a two-thirds majority, a victory tainted by allegations of state-sponsored manipulation. The PPP, a dominant force, was reduced to a mere 18 seats. These events raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Karachi’s political landscape during this period was dominated by the MQM, which stands accused of using intimidation to stifle opposition. Smaller towns weren’t immune either, with feudal lords resorting to ballot stuffing.
Over time, various methods were utilised by the state to influence electoral outcomes. These include gerrymandering, the use of state resources for campaigning, politically motivated accountability drives against certain leaders, and control over media narratives. These tactics not only skew electoral results but also undermine the essence of democracy. They also don’t stand the test of time. But that doesn’t stop the ‘puppeteers’ from trying. Now a new campaign seems to be under way — this time against the PTI.
Party members are facing obstacles in filing nomination papers, police raids are targeting their families, and there is an atmosphere of intimidation. Such actions suggest a deliberate effort to exclude a major political force, undermining the democratic process. This tactic has broader implications: it potentially alienates voters, leading to a lower turnout on polling day.
Further, if key parties are forced out of the contest, their members will resort to contesting as independents. Post-election, these independents could be coerced into joining other political parties, complicating the political tapestry.
The crux of the matter lies in the erosion of democratic norms. When poll processes are compromised, the legitimacy of the next government becomes questionable. As Pakistan navigates turbulent political waters, it must reflect on the long-term consequences of such manoeuvring. A collective effort is required to ensure fair, transparent, and credible elections, which are the cornerstone of any functioning democracy. Only through such measures can the faith of the populace in the democratic process be restored, paving the way for a more stable Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2023