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The season of vicious verbosity


by Sikandar Noorani in Daily Times, Nov5, 2020
The writer is a freelancer
It is very much Indo-Pak style of politics to blame the rivals for promoting enemy country’s narratives. This vicious tendency was always there but a recent surge needs much serious head on shoulders. Ex speaker national assembly Ayaz Sadiq has taken a significant lead among those PDM stalwarts who spoke irresponsibly at important forums whatwas neither expected nor required. Common audience and saner political analysts were surprised after hearing controversial remarks of Mahmood Achakzi about national language Urdu in Karachi gathering. His unwise remarks created a bad taste and hurt the sentiments of masses to a great extant. No one could comprehend that why the stage of eleven party alliance meant to campaign for democracy and public rights was used to ignite the ethnic fire? PDM’s third gathering at Quetta once again stirred controversies when JUP secretary general urged Baluchistan to be an independent state. Though, he amply clarified the real point of view by accepting the slip of tongue in which he uttered ‘Azad Baluchistan’ instead of ‘Azad Pakistan’ but Information Minister made it big issue by bracketing the whole PDM with arch rival India.

Unfortunately, none of the senior leadership of PDM felt any responsibility to rectify or condemn the irresponsible talks made from its platform. Leaders with ethno-lingual tendencies, like Mahmood Achakzai, Akhtar Mengal and Mohsin Dawar with their irresponsible speeches, proved their unsuitability for national political platforms. But above all these undesired happenings, two speeches of UK based Mian Nawaz Sharif played a major role in diverting the attention of PDM from political campaigning to non-political contentious issues. Now, all the irresponsible verbosity made by PDM leaders in recent days is being viewed in the context of Mian Nawaz Sharif’s publically name calling of heads of the state institutions.

Belated reference of the security environment related to the release of IAF’ pilot Abhinandan by Ayaz Sadiq has further stamped that PML-N is pursuing an agenda much different than stated objectives of the PDM. Why are few stalwarts of PML-N and opportunist pressure groups with ethno-lingual tendencies poised to create wider unrest and political chaos? Akhtar Mengal, during his recent meet with Maryam Nawaz, urged to create significant unrest by using a vague but quite meaningful term of ‘Dama Dam Mast Qalandar’.

Obviously, opposition alliance seems more inclined towards creating a rhetoric against the government and state institutions by totally ignoring the public issues or sufferings. On the other side, government too has so far not shown any maturity in dealing with the opposition’s provocative maneuvering. Ayaz Sadiq’s meaningful taunting on Abhinadan’s release and Science Minister’s fiery response was cleverly picked by Indian state machinery and its hired hatemonger media quarters.

Modi led BJP has exactly got what it never expected from Pak side! On one hand, BJP is calling shots against political rivals especially the Rahul Gandhi led congress which had been continuously blaming the Modi regime for using the blood of CRPF soldiers to gain electoral benefits. On the other hand, BJP has got some more material to strengthen the foundations of propaganda castle build against Pakistan over falsified fabricated allegations. Questions on loyalties or patriotism of rivals are not only being raised in Pakistan only. It is very much visible in India as well. Initially, Modi and BJP were attacked by the opposition parties for staging Pulwama attack to gain electoral benefit by igniting anti-Pak war rhetoric. In response BJP blamed the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and rest of the criticizing opposition for speaking the language of Pakistan. Later on, Indian PM Narinder Modi was strongly criticized for displaying cowardice against China in Ladakh standoff at LAC. Interestingly, this time BJP called all critics a traitor by labeling them Chinese agents.

While this strange Indo-Pak phenomenon of labelling the rivals as traitors is in full swing on both sides, some serious statesmanship can only reset the focus on real issues. It is true that tendency of traitor labelling must be curbed. At the same time, major parties should pay special attention on the political training and grooming of the parliamentarians and Spokesperson Brigades. Importance of communication skills must not be under weighed in present era of speedy flow of information. Parliament is too serious a forum to accommodate or absorb the misguided verbosity on extremely sensitive national issues.

Likewise, national political forums like PDM must not be offered to dubious or non-serious ethnic pressure groups who neither hold sufficient public support nor believe in the ideological basis of the country. No one has yet raised a question about the legality of online speeches made by Mian Nawaz Sharif with two public gatherings of PDM while being an absconder after violating the bail limit.

Other than legal aspects, morality standards must also be kept in focus by rest of the parties of the PDM. It is worth noting that Mian Nawaz Sharif has not only dragged army in politics by calling the names of the heads of state institutions but he committed a clear contempt of court by calling their verdicts an outcome of behind the curtain conspiracies.

How PDM can carry the flag of constitutional supremacy by pursuing highly controversial demands of fresh elections without even moving a No Confidence Move? There are some serious questions in the minds of political workers awaiting the response from PDM.
First, what is the future road map with PDM after two more public gatherings?
Second, who will lead the election campaign of PML-N if, hypothetically assuming, government agrees to hold the fresh polls?
Third, how would PDM transform in an election alliance while PPP and PML-N are likely rivals in any next polls?
Fourth, how Maryam and Mian Nawaz Sharif will manage to reach the parliament with weight of legal disqualification on their backs? Political debates should be diverted fromvicious traitor business to these serious questions.
PDM’s real agenda is hidden somewhere in the answers of these four questions.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/685375/the-season-of-vicious-verbosity/