Pakistan : Political turncoats

Editorial:THE FRONTIER POST

The trait of people lacking ideological commitment enjoying perks and privileges for a full term of the government and then switching their loyalty to another party at the decisive stage has permeated in the country’s political order as a chronic ailment. This’tamasha’ is being staged on Pakistan’s political chessboard these days without any shame and remorse. The latest actor of this stage is the former president of the Balochistan chapter of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, Nawab Lashkari Raisani, who joined the rival Pakistan Muslim League-N, at a time when assemblies are being dissolved in a few days. He has attributed his defection to the PPP leadership losing the vision of slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto in governance, an excuse he found only after the province has been placed under the governor’s rule. However, the fact remains that it is not Lashkari but his brother Nawab Aslam Raisani, the former chief minister, who holds sway over the Raisani tribe, one of the major clans in Balochistan, and his joining of the PML-N has only a symbolic importance as Aslam continues to be the PPP man. Such defections have been the hallmark of the powerful feudal lords, tribal chiefs and the people with vested interests to always remain in power and this custom reminds the people that the country has not so far been liberated from the exploitative and repressive feudal society. History would bear the testimony that such defections are usual before every election in particular and yet this has never disturbed the political equilibrium. Similarly, political polarization has come to stay like in the past. Such a ghastly political mannerism must be the matter of concern for the parties receiving with open arms the unscrupulous elements more than the party losing them in the switch over. Those welcoming them are, no doubt, promoting political corruption and are adding to the ushering in a politically incredibility era. Because such elements hardly have a commitment, their only concern is returning to assembly. No doubt, Lashkari, too, would be aspiring for a PML-N ticket and if the Sharifs’ party obliges him, it will be an apolitical decision and promote political corruption and black-mailing. Pakistan is now at the crossroad of making or breaking political and democratic traditions and the coming parliamentary election has thus assumed a critical importance. If those at the helm of affairs falter, the country would never attain a democratic landmark. The selection of candidates, therefore, also becomes a great responsibility of all political parties. Better they refuse awarding tickets to political turncoats because they can be expected to leave like parting ways with their original party. Ideally, all electoral laws should be so amended as to awarding of tickets to political renegades becomes a legal offence and a big disqualification.