;Dr. Umar Khan
Dr. Khan belongs to a Lahore based Think Tank.
10-3-23
The Pakistani Silent Revolution/Miracle
Before a revolution happens, it is perceived as impossible, after it
happens, it is seen as having been inevitable. Rosa Luxemberg
A little more than a quarter century ago, in
Imran’s fate was no different. He spent 15 years in total
wilderness losing all elections becoming a butt of jokes and ridicule by ordinary
journalists and others routinely. He was mostly compared with Asghar Khan as a
man of principles but impractical, unable to compete with the established
politicians, mostly Shariffs and Bhuttos, and was destined to the dustbin of
history. Even his well-wishers found it hard to think otherwise.
Imran and PTI kept on struggling without tangible results repeating
his message for 15 long years. It was October 2011 when changes in public
perceptions and attitudes started appearing and there was a surprisingly large
and charged up rally in Lahore and people started joining PTI.
Just before the elections of 2014 he spoke too candidly
against a superpower in an interview and we knew his political future was
doomed, at least for the next elections. Later he realized the realities and
subtleties of Pakistani politics practicing pragmatism, not very attractive at
times, and realized power in 2018 against the expectations of many. Because of
his idealist nature we knew he won’t last long and he didn’t.
He not only lost power but became the target of attacks of
all kinds coming from many directions. Despite this worldly loss when we see
the society he wanted to change has already been turned upside down and that
also so subtly that most could not see the change coming. Nothing short of a
revolution or miracle and that also a silent one.
A new society has come into being in Pakistan I will
enumerate a few absolutely revolutionary changes that even the advanced West is
still striving for.
- Women participation in Pakistani politics.
Before PTI appearing on Pakistan’s political horizon,
politics was considered too indecent for dignified men and unimaginable for
educated middle class women. Gradually this stigma and taboo has been won over.
Many Pakistani ladies, young and old, educated and others, rich and poor are
active in politics mostly committed supporters of PTI. They have broken the
barriers of gender stereotyping and shown their effectiveness and resilience
doing everything and more that a man can do. They vote regularly and have
become the determining factor in Pakistani elections leaving the established
status quo players flabbergasted and desperate.
This level of participation and activity by the women is
unheard of in the western world that can only envy this third world Islamic
country.
- Families and the youngsters becoming determining factor in
politics
In the old feudal Pakistan, the tough male head of the
family was supposed to take the political decisions and the families were to follow
him unquestioned. This has changed. Now mostly the families decide the
political discourse in middle and lower class families and then influence their
male heads. Differences of opinion are now amicably tolerated both taking their
own ways.
- Monopoly of military on patriotism and politics has been
challenged.
Since the creation of Pakistan and its ensuing bloodshed
where the military helped the Muslim refugees, the military held a monopoly on
Pakistani politics and its definition of patriotism. This was despite the fact
that military had long served the foreign subjugators against its own people
and Muslims worldwide. However the later image of protector of Muslims
prevailed, mostly in Punjab.
The scenario has finally changed. Now the Punjabis and even
the military families have started questioning the workings and intentions of
the military and its agencies. Their subservience to the foreign powers,
meddling in politics and even the accumulation of resources are being
questioned.
This end of military’s monopoly has started showing results
and is expected to show more changes in future.
- Pakistan leading the world in Corona/national self-esteem.
200 years of subjugation in the hands of the imperialists
had badly damaged our self-esteem where the non-white were to follow the
westerners who were perceived as wiser and smarter. The established collective
wisdom was to see how it was done in the west and then follow it blindly. It
was nearly unimaginable to do otherwise.
Imran and the PTI
government faced Corona, the biggest medical disaster of the century, against
the established advice of complete shutdown preferring smart lockdowns instead.
His opponents had already started criticizing and ridiculing him when the
positive effects started coming and the world starting appreciating them.
This was the first time when such a thing had happened
positively affecting the bruised national esteem of Pakistanis.
- Corruption had become acceptable and impunity considered normal.
Much before Hamza Shahbaz’s declaration of positivity of
corruption, Gen Zia’s nonparty elections of 1985 had corrupted the political
scene very badly, both officially and unofficially. Operation Changa Manga and
signing of new IPPs despite inability to buy electricity from already installed
plants, had become normal and expected. It got so bad that instead of the
corrupt being ostracized it was the honest that became criticized and rejected
in the Islamic Republic.
This dreadful development in Pakistani society resulted in
near collapse of its economy impoverishing the nation.
Now the unexplained wealth and its ostentatious display is
being questioned and should be showing results in future, IA.
- Tourism revolution.
PTI encouraged domestic tourism changing the complete scenario.
The incomparable Pakistani north has developed beyond recognition providing
many jobs and businesses. A lot more needs to be done and done more responsibly
as this spurt of tourism has some negative points too but it has changed much
of Pakistan forever.
- Economy : Sugar/IPP disaster. Exports rising
PTI government came in power in 2018 when Pakistan was the
only country in the world with dropped exports 2014-2018. Despite this drop in
exports, growth was claimed ensuring a certain economic disaster but it was
well managed. PTI government worked hard to encourage industry and exports
started increasing.
Interestingly the dropped exports were hardly questioned and
the culprits claimed to be economic geniuses.
- Apathy.
Pakistani society had become hopeless and totally apathetic.
“Nothing will change” was the popular saying and leaving Pakistan the only hope
for its youth.
Now this apathy has changed and middle classes are active in
politics.
The youngsters now want to change the society for the better
and believe that their future is in their own hands unwilling to give it away.
This is not the Pakistan I saw and lived after Zia. It’s a
new country with challenges but lots hope and energy in its people to strive
for their preferred society.
Despite innumerable challenges and shortcomings the single
quality of Imran that managed this silent revolution was his unbelievable
resilience. He was dropped to the mat many times but he always got up and
fought.
We are so fortunate that this silent revolution is quiet,
peaceful and unassuming till now. We hope and pray it stays that way.
The best part of this silent revolution is that it gave hope
to Pakistanis making me enthusiastic about its future. Revolutions never go
backward and these changes would not be reversed no matter how much the
opponents try.
Our youth have shown hope, and willingness to strive for it
giving me even more reason to be optimistic praying in the words of Sahir, “Inka
bhi janoon nakaam na ho “
Welcome to the new assertive and self-confident Pakistan.
One
of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up
being governed by your inferiors. Plato
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