by Shahzad Chaudhry in The Express Tribune, Oct 28, 2022
The writer is a political, security and defence analyst.
……Imran Khan is incensed. He may be right in how he feels but it enthuses in his supporters and followers the same sentiment of hate. His opposition, traditional politicians, may still be patently opportunistic in pursuit of their respective pound of flesh but he has given his opposition currency and relevance in this confrontational pitch-up. They may be dirty, seeped in endemic corruption, only seeking their own gains at nation’s and people’s cost, but this confrontation has found them the chance to pitch their own stakes and buffer their claims. It has also found them the space to subvert institutional coherence by playing one off against the other keeping institutional standoff rife. Slander with hate thus finds relevance.
An emaciated economy and a fractious sociopolitics renders itself to a toxic mix waiting for a light to turn on the fire and burn itself down. Rupert Russel the author of Price Wars calls it the initial flutter of a butterfly which reverberates far and wide in a cascading escalation which keeps growing bigger as it engorges on more; at times in places far away from where a butterfly first fluttered. MJ Akbar called us a‘Tinderbox’ to our utter dislike but that is what we have precisely become. Did we just show it the spark needed to consume us down? When Arshad Sharif, the journalist, was tragically murdered near Nairobi, Kenya, it seemed ominous enough. Not at this time; not now. We could have done without it. The self-immolating Tunisian fruit-vendor Mohamad Bouazizi lit the fire that brought down most nations down but Pakistan survived. In a redux, Pakistan stands badly exposed, weakened and vulnerable.
From a case of mistaken identity to one of a trigger happy indisciplined force acting as hired assassins to a possible connivance of some who wished Sharif harm to a conspiracy driven to add spark to the tinderbox, the possibilities are immense. Unfortunately, we had got ourselves to that position of vulnerability where each such frame and hypothesis can fix. As we move on, especially under the watchful eye of many Pakistan watchers abroad, the truth will soon be out and what we may hear or learn may not be pretty. But till then, and even then, there will be a civilised legal resort which can guide us through our most heinous times. Jumping to conclusions has never helped. Reinforcing stereotypes too is fallacious, misplaced and misdirected even if historical evidence informs otherwise. Especially when future of a nation, its people and its insti- tutions is at stake. Burning something down to rebuild is a route for the vicious. To remedy and build on what already exists is a virtue.
Imran Khan may be pondering his next step as this piece appears. Before him is his anger, frustration and dismay — accentuated by the murder of an ally journalist who anyway must find justice. Were he to be guided by his sentiment it just may be the torch that the tinderbox must never see. An Arab Spring must not be the fate that we have so deftly avoided. He must choose wisely in the larger good of the nation; not driven by the impulse of the moment which could bring him narrow return. IK’s leadership is on test.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2383666/sleepwalking-into-an-arab-spring
leepwalking into an Arab Spring
by Shahzad Chaudhry in The Express Tribune, Oct 28, 2022
The writer is a political, security and defence analyst.
……Imran Khan is incensed. He may be right in how he feels but it enthuses in his supporters and followers the same sentiment of hate. His opposition, traditional politicians, may still be patently opportunistic in pursuit of their respective pound of flesh but he has given his opposition currency and relevance in this confrontational pitch-up. They may be dirty, seeped in endemic corruption, only seeking their own gains at nation’s and people’s cost, but this confrontation has found them the chance to pitch their own stakes and buffer their claims. It has also found them the space to subvert institutional coherence by playing one off against the other keeping institutional standoff rife. Slander with hate thus finds relevance.
An emaciated economy and a fractious sociopolitics renders itself to a toxic mix waiting for a light to turn on the fire and burn itself down. Rupert Russel the author of Price Wars calls it the initial flutter of a butterfly which reverberates far and wide in a cascading escalation which keeps growing bigger as it engorges on more; at times in places far away from where a butterfly first fluttered. MJ Akbar called us a‘Tinderbox’ to our utter dislike but that is what we have precisely become. Did we just show it the spark needed to consume us down? When Arshad Sharif, the journalist, was tragically murdered near Nairobi, Kenya, it seemed ominous enough. Not at this time; not now. We could have done without it. The self-immolating Tunisian fruit-vendor Mohamad Bouazizi lit the fire that brought down most nations down but Pakistan survived. In a redux, Pakistan stands badly exposed, weakened and vulnerable.
From a case of mistaken identity to one of a trigger happy indisciplined force acting as hired assassins to a possible connivance of some who wished Sharif harm to a conspiracy driven to add spark to the tinderbox, the possibilities are immense. Unfortunately, we had got ourselves to that position of vulnerability where each such frame and hypothesis can fix. As we move on, especially under the watchful eye of many Pakistan watchers abroad, the truth will soon be out and what we may hear or learn may not be pretty. But till then, and even then, there will be a civilised legal resort which can guide us through our most heinous times. Jumping to conclusions has never helped. Reinforcing stereotypes too is fallacious, misplaced and misdirected even if historical evidence informs otherwise. Especially when future of a nation, its people and its insti- tutions is at stake. Burning something down to rebuild is a route for the vicious. To remedy and build on what already exists is a virtue.
Imran Khan may be pondering his next step as this piece appears. Before him is his anger, frustration and dismay — accentuated by the murder of an ally journalist who anyway must find justice. Were he to be guided by his sentiment it just may be the torch that the tinderbox must never see. An Arab Spring must not be the fate that we have so deftly avoided. He must choose wisely in the larger good of the nation; not driven by the impulse of the moment which could bring him narrow return. IK’s leadership is on test.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2383666/sleepwalking-into-an-arab-spring
Published in Pak Media comment