The worst-ever power crisis, shortage of gas and CNG bringing the entire machinery to a halt, absence of rule of law and spillover effect of war on terror causing radicalization and deterioration in law and order in Balochistan have attracted the youth to PTI.
Whatever reasons are for the success story of PTI show, we must not forget few harsh realities like the induction of Musharraf cabinet members (Khurshid Kasuri, Sikander Bosan, Awais Laghari, Jehangir Tareen, Farooq Amjad Mir) into PTI. Javed Hashmi’s induction has to a great extent helped rubbed off the PTI’s image of being a pro-establishment party. He is the only voice in that clique against plotters who scheme against democracy and who keep changing their loyalties. According to analysts, Javed Hashmi’s decision to join PTI would be an ideological suicide if he later comes across any harsh reality or fails to stamp the pledge of strengthening democracy. Time alone would decide if Hashmi’s decision was right. Also, the PTI failed to deliver a coherent message to the people, as all PTI leader were of different views in their speeches.
The induction of people like Javed Hashmi has questioned the ‘supreme unquestioned’ authority of political leadership within parties. It also showed the resentment of a political worker towards his leadership. This is of serious concern and the core leadership must give it a serious thought if it wants to keep their parties intact and save them from break. Both the PPP and PML-N couldn’t ensure democracy in their parties.
Surely, the PTI aspired the youth but in reality its promised revolution has devoured its own child as we see the original PTI workers turned to minority and put in background and the new faces in control of the party. If this is the promised change or revolution then it can never alter the fate of 180 million Pakistanis.
Pakistan needs a constitutional change and empowerment of true public representatives. There is strong need for error-free electoral lists and declaration of assets by the public representatives to ensure a genuine democracy. Pakistan cannot be made strong through an illegal or undemocratic change, as it will only serve to deteriorate the situation and widen the already yawning trust-deficit between the people and political parties. Every institution must work within its jurisdiction rather than confronting each other, as it would only help the adventurists to exploit the situation to their benefit. It remains to be seen whether or not Khan brings about a change, he has at least thrown a stone in the still water and people believe him. One must not lose hope but at the same time one mustn’t dream in the broad daylight.