UK Lawyers termed MQM & PML stand off a bad omen for democracy
Association of Pakistani Lawyers a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges in UK jointly have taken a serious note of the frivolous statement of MQM lower tier leadership targeting personalities than issues and in particular the standoff between MPQ and PML(N) and fiery exchanges and termed it a bad omen for democracy.
APL confirmed that it demanded a judicial probe into 12th May killing which cost many lives unnecessarily and it is a relevant subject for Pakistanis, and it must be rightly investigated, so as drone attacks and the killings at Nishtar park in Karachi. Politics of issues has never been in business in Pakistan. The flurry of exchanges between both sides (PML & MQM) is unwanted and unbefitting to the political norms in any democratic society. The way Altaf responded to the calls of former premier Nawaz Sharif and then the lower tier forgetting all boundaries show that political culture is decaying in Pakistan. It is good that both high ranking leaders have realized sooner before war of words turn into war of fire.
Now either media and judiciary with the aid of establishment both civil and military help Pakistanis to make a fair choice and promote and foster a better ‘leadership hunt’ or they all become stake holders as they do and claim their share at the first available opportunity. Choice is there. Politics of Pakistan is not deep rooted enough to survive the first wave of the tyranny and that is the very weakness the politicians have failed to encompass. Dictatorship hesitates if a million voters and supporters are ready to die for the party and their leader on the suppression of their mandate. Here drawing room politicians who may only create a storm in a cup of tea but may not offer their chest for bullets to the coming dictator are themselves fearful of the elections in their own parties. Some whisper in foreign ears of the royalty and kinship and others avoid, but all are scared of election(s) in their ranks the very basis of democracy and the first step to check military dictatorship, said APL Chair Amjad Malik.
APL warned that MQM will have to review their politics too if they ever wish to advance to other areas of Pakistan as they have a fascinating manifesto but always is high jacked when crunch came, and 12th May is one of those weaker moments. To us, world is closely knit into global village and media’s role is greater than we ever envisaged. The images we saw in Karachi on 12 May 2007 pose a serious question to Pakistani elite to de-weaponise Karachi to promote free exercise of the democratic right of vote. Rule of law, free press, and democracy cannot go hand in hand with blackmailing and rule of bullet. Things are changing, Pakistan is changing, but Pak leaders are in denial of this change and either is unwilling to submit to this change or not willing to run with the flow, failing to move an inch. Message is loud and clear that violence is no more and oppression is history.
APL confirmed that, “British Govt was warned in 2007 that if at this juncture it neglects to check the perpetration and penetration of violence from ‘London hub’ directed at Karachi or somewhere else, it will not be able to absolve its duty to protect British public if tomorrow that violence breeds violence and bounce back and its effects reaches to the shore of London. They did not pay heed to those saner calls and readers witnessed that their neglect has caused Dr Imran Farooq his life. It may cost many more, before reaching to a saturation point unless British Govt acts fast and as a policy end these ‘safe heavens’ as a ploy to seek international gains”. APL concluded that, “bitter reality is that fear of dictatorship still remains and that is the dark destiny of Pakistan. Alas, it is all because of these leaders who do not think when they open their mouth, and how can they change this destiny that has confined Quaid e Azam to wall portraits, is a million dollar question to ask them.”
Barrister Amjad Malik, MA, LLM
Chair Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
