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| Dimensions of Politics |
Dimensions of Politics
In December 2021,
when the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) started a serious move towards a
no-confidence motion against the ruling government of PTI at that time, I wrote
an article titled "Colors of Politics". This was the no-confidence
motion that the PDM would have to move forward against the PTI government. It
resulted in the success of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly in
April 2022. Consequently, the Prime Ministership of Imran Khan and the PTI
government ended and the coalition government of PDM was established.
After that, now in
January 2023, PTI planned a Vote of Confidence move by the President of
Pakistan against PDM-appointed Prime Minister Mr. Shehbaz Sharif. But on
January 17, 2023, Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf approved the
resignation of 35 members of the PTI and thwarted this plan before it started.
Now, whether the
Vote of Confidence is sought based on the "majority of the total
house" or the "majority of the existing members" in a run-off
election, in both cases the coalition government of the PDM has secured itself
extremely well and the PTI itself has been thrown practically out of parliament
due to its own mistakes. Now the coalition government of PDM will not only
conduct the new elections of its own accord, but it is also in a strong
position to decide the care-taker setup of its choice before the new elections.
So, just as my
said article "Colors of Politics" on the occasion of PDM's
no-confidence motion, my today's article "Dimensions of Politics" is
written in connection with the failed attempt of the "Vote of
Confidence" move by PTI against PM Shehbaz Sharif. This blog is meant to clarify
the difference between PDM's successful no-confidence motion and PTI's failed attempt
regarding the vote of confidence.
To answer this
question, we have to think while living in the world of facts considering the
ground realities and going into the vortex of politics and democracy. We can
easily find the answer to this question in the light of the principles,
traditions, and values of politics, and the democratic approach. That is the
difference between the two occasions.
Political Values
Politics is a
coin with two sides. The first side is the flexibility, opportunities, and
possibilities of politics, while the second side is its ruthlessness and
heartlessness. These two sides are not only opposite in direction, but the
reality of both sides is completely different from each other. If the
flexibility of politics is taken advantage of, its fruits will not end. Yes,
the question of its right or wrong use has its place, but the aspect of
betterment is significantly dominant in its flexibility. While if we look at
the other side of politics, like a double-edged sword, politics is a
manifestation of ruthlessness and is entirely devoid of emotions. This second
aspect can be very harmful. So, this aspect may have a more prominent disaster.
This second side
of politics is very ruthless. Agha Shorish Kashmiri has said well that there is
no heart in the chest of politics. A certain degree of aggressiveness in
politics can be beneficial in some cases, but if the political leaders continue
to ignore political flexibility, opportunities, and possibilities and only
adopt the approach of aggression and confrontation, then politics shows its
other side of ruthlessness with its full might. As a result, such politicians
keep kicking themselves out of the field, the doors of their survival and
rescue in politics keep closing for them one by one, and gradually they become
a lesson, a story, and a reminder of the past.
Inflexibility can
only be characterized by confrontational behavior, but it cannot be politics at
all. In politics, there are factors like construction, reconciliation, moving
forward, development, carrying everyone along, moving forward by keeping the
public interest in front, collective thinking, prioritizing national interest
over personal interest, etc. On the contrary, fighting, conflict, destruction,
damage, loss, personal ego, personal interests, individual thinking, personal
interests, etc. cannot be politics. Yes, it can be ignorance of political
values, incompetence of so-called politicians, or means of compliance with
external agendas and conspiracies.
Democratic Approach
In the field of
politics, there are political rules and values. To acquire them, the best prevailing
practice today is the democratic approach. The political system of the world is
such that no one can claim to be indispensable with no replacement. Many
excellent substitutes for each person are already waiting for the opportunity.
The desire for popularity makes a person fall into irreparable mistakes and
brings him to a place where his people also leave him since there is no
shortage of opportunistic people and gold diggers in politics who are
unfamiliar with words like loyalty etc. Backstabbing is considered by them to
be the standard of their wisdom and success. Therefore, the situation of
conflict that arises as a result of neglecting flexibility and possibilities, reduces
the space to more and more limited.
Recent Political Scenario of Pakistan
If we look at the
political scenario of Pakistan in recent years, it is very sad to say that the
high traditions of politics and its virtues would never have had an opportunity
to flourish in Pakistan. Democratic approach and general thought also fall
victim to the sufferings of time before their cultivation. Its negative
consequences continue to emerge in the form of the decline of state
institutions, political parties, and politicians. Looking at the recent
political scenario in this context, many lessons need to be learned. But it may
take centuries or at least decades for us to move in the right direction. While
there is life there is hope. Best of luck.
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#politics
#dimension #values #traditions #democratic #approach #pdm #no-confidence #vote
#confidence #parliament #constitution #law #government #lessons #scenario
#Pakistan # Dr.TahirMahmood
