The current political turmoil in Pakistan may lead to the ouster of Imran Khan, but it might also turn into a wild goose chase if the attempt fails. Opposition parties once unacceptable to each other have realigned to defeat the government. Artfully crafted, this political jugglery is supported by the military establishment. Some think that the shift in the direction of interventions – or lack thereof – is an irresistible influence on political affairs and is necessary to maintain authoritarianism. However, modern political thinkers might be astonished by the establishment turning against the present government even after it was first backed and fully supported to bring in their very own ‘blue-eyed boy.’
It is now a common and an inevitable approach of the establishment to clash with the elected government. The genesis of this influence goes back to when the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was first governor-general of the country.
Philip Oldenburg from the South Asia Institute at Columbia University is a political theorist and author and co-author of books on Indian and Pakistan. He also authored a book titled India, Pakistan and Democracy: Solving the Puzzle of Divergent Paths (2010). According to him, Jinnah feared a split and weakening of the ruling Muslim League. As the first governor-general of independent Pakistan, he concentrated all executive, legislative and political positions – reducing the powers of prime ministers and increasing the authority of the bureaucracy and military. Jinnah feared formation of political parties which might destroy or capture the political influence that his own party had achieved.
With the passage of time, the power grabbing trend shifted from the bureaucracy towards the military. From state affairs to strategic developments, the members of the establishment manufacture partners for forming the government – all the while looking to steer political, ethnic and religious affairs in what they consider to be a desirable direction.
In April 2010, the then government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. There are two major objectives of this bill as it was intended to ensure smoother political transitions by removing the power of president to dissolve the elected assemblies, turning Pakistan from semi-presidential to parliament. Secondly, it allowed for decentralisation of powers: supporting provinces and strengthening institutions, especially to generate revenue. Sadly, this has failed to provide political stability.
Winds of fear again are blowing about the country today, as this political unrest could strengthen extremist factions and encourage religious fundamentalism.
At the end of the day, the fact of unstable government does indeed have very real implications for common citizens. The ordinary people in Pakistan are already facing the troubling implications of soaring prices. The surge of inflation is putting a heavy burden on both lower-middle -income households and ultimately affecting economy of the country.
The ongoing global Coronavirus pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are issues that caused critical stresses for the global economy. And they have had their impact on consumer price inflation in Pakistan. According to a World Bank report, the rise in consumer prices has disproportionately impacted poorer households – as they spend a larger share of their income on food items.
The constant threats to the economy and instability call for a sincere political approach for building integration and securing national interest. As a first priority, political parties and unelected power centres alike will have to find some way to ‘live and let live’ – for a start!
