How to End Politics of Hate and Intolerance

Pakistan for the last many years is witnessing all kinds of conflicts—economic, socio-political, centre-provinces disagreements, sectarian, tribal, ethnic and religious fights, suicidal attacks, thrashing of political opponents and what not. These are the wages of “learned helplessness� and tolerating one-man’s dictatorial rule for eight long years. Although Musharraf poses himself as saviour of nation, man with vision and promoter of enlightenment and moderation, but it is undeniable fact that he created a new class of cronies and sycophants that used brutal state power to gag every dissident voice—how lawyers, politicians, political workers, members of civil society, media men and even judges of superior courts were manhandled, detained and tortured is well-documented in our history now.

Violence breeds violence: chain reaction of suicidal attacks after ruthless operation of self-created drama at Lal Masjid and Jamiae Huffza; assassination attempts on key political figures in retaliation to backing indiscriminate bombing of tribal areas; bashing of Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Sher Afgan Niazi (two right-hand men of Musharraf) who even after manhandling of Chief Justice of Pakistan (he was dragged and pulled by hair) showed great jubilation. These incidents, whosoever is the victim, are highly condemnable. All the sections of society, however, should not pay just lip-service to non-violence and tolerance by just indulging in repeated condemnation and heartfelt sadness over these ugly incidents. All of us will have to strive hard and together to end the politics of hate and vengeance. Blame game and mudslinging must end now. We need to find reasons behind this growing spate of violence and must uproot the root cause, rather than curing the symptoms—a fruitless effort.

The man behind the politics of intolerance and hate, symbol of discord rather than harmony as president of State, is responsible for present state of affairs. How one can forget the man, who after brutal killing of dozens of people on his order on May 12, 2007 in Karachi, in the night in Islamabad, with all the cronies around, had guts to raise hands and announce “….have you seen our power�. He is still showing that “power� by sticking to illegally and unlawfully occupied position, busy hatching conspiracies to prove that people of Pakistan and political leadership are incapable of managing affairs of State and democracy is not suitable for Pakistan. This is what he told the West during his last visit before the 2008 elections. He dubbed his own people “immature� and “ignorant� [they proved him wrong by giving clear mandate on February 18, 2008] and now he is trying his level best to prove that their elected leaders are “incapable� of running government, maintain law and order, what to talk of establishing democracy.

The tragedy of Pakistan is non-resisted, unchecked and unfettered perpetuation of unholy alliance between the establishment (both civil and military) and political elite. This anti-people alliance deprives the people of their fundamental rights and political empowerment. It dispossesses them of great wealth of natural resources and equitable and just division of economic benefits. It is now well-established that unless this unholy alliance is destroyed, there is no hope of establishment of true democracy and rule of law in Pakistan, without these ugly incidents will keep on happening. The way Musharraf and his cronies maltreated the judges (even after new prime minister took charge of office, house of one judge ransacked) shows how far a US-backed dictator can go to humiliate his own people and make mockery of everything. If Musharraf survives even after the wake of people’s verdict of February 18, 2008, with the help of US and support of certain political elements [beneficiaries of NRO?], history will never forgive the Pakistani politicians and intelligentsia for not mobilising the common people to force him to step down like the masses did in Georgia. From the events of recent weeks, it is crystal clear that Musharraf is again skillfully pitting different sections of society against each others to regain his lost empire. He and his mentors (Bush et al) are supporting him and forcing the winners of 2008 elections to accept him.

The mentors of Musharraf must realise that their criminal culpability of supporting a dictator in the name of so-called ‘war on terrorism’ (sic) has started showing its worst side in Pakistan—from institutional crises to breakdown of civic society, from intolerance to lawlessness. Musharraf has been and is still using self-styled, self-motivated guardians of morality (sic) and political Jialas (enthusiasts) to take law in their hands—they are infiltrated and planted by hidden hands in the ranks and files of political parties and other organisations. The incidents of Lal Masjid and Jamiae Huffza and attacks on Arbab Rahim and Sher Afgan testify to this without any doubt. In these circumstances, the most important issue is how to prepare masses to come out of “learned helplessness� and “self-destructive apathy�.

“Learned helplessness�, as demonstrated by empirical data in 1965 by psychologist Martin Seligman, arises from apathy. Once a person knows he is helpless, he stops making any effort to change his circumstances and develops apathy as a way of life. Now people are taking law in their own hands as judges are not allowed to work. The apex court judges themselves are seeking justice! The masses of this country have become apathetic after continuously witnessing the hopeless conduct of their political leaders, who failed to do anything for them during their rules [twice the leading parties PPP and PML(N) got a chance to serve the people but they opted to make money and/or please the mighty generals]. Such apathy arising from “learned helplessness� is the reason why the masses were not ready to come on streets against Musharraf when he was destroying every institution and making the poor man’s economic life miserable. In contrast Zulfikar Ali Bhutto managed to bring masses on street when he started a movement against the military power. Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman attracted masses while countering military atrocities in the then East Pakistan. In those days, political apathy was non-existent as people had faith in their leaders and were ready to fight for their rights and just causes. Now they know that after winning elections, their leaders are more interested in settling ministerial positions and to find ways to be close to the power that matters in the land.

The present scenario will not change unless our political leadership starts regaining the support of masses in real sense (voting process is a different dimension) rather than just struggling for worthless ministerial and/or parliamentary positions. They must find ways to prepare the masses to overcome the syndrome of “learned helplessness�. The existing control of Establishment over State apparatus can only be destroyed and countered through a mass power.

The colonial policy of divide and rule employed by Establishment is creating rift between political parties, encouraging battles within civil society and promoting extremism, through funding certain elements, to counter the masses so that instead of uniting for removal of Musharraf, they should rather beg for support of the mighty for protection of life and property. This is their right and obligation of the State, but it is now considered a favour and privilege in Pakistan!. These tactics are not new; every ruling elite indulges in these kinds of policies and tactics to protect its vested interest (of course Zadari and Gillani, Nawaz and Shahbaz et al are not ready to surrender their assets to public) and make people fool in the name of self-defined “national interests�. At this critical juncture of history, it is the people of Pakistan who will have to decide their fate. If they once again fail to force Musharraf to step down and force their elected members to work for public welfare rather than self-aggrandizement, no one will be able to avert a long and dark period of subjugation that renders a nation neither amongst the dead nor alive—the worst possible punishment history can inflict on apathetic people.
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The writers (ikram@huzaimaikram.com), tax advisers, legal historians and authors, are visiting Professors at Lahore University of Management Sciences(LUMS)