A good CBM from PM Abbasi

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s latest statement that the government is also establishment and that there is no clash between the government and national institutions, is a good CBM towards the promotion of national harmony and cohesion.

This confidence-building move has sent positive signals all around even if some detractors of the government are trying to paint it as mere rhetoric. The reason for its positive impact is that stated positions do reflect some degree of internal thinking of the people at the helm of affairs in the institutions.

PM Abbasi’s statement can be adjudged on a number of yardsticks but the one that stands the test of reason is that at least his government does not intend to tread the path of confrontation with any state institution or office. The PM has rather built up his case logically by explaining that the government is itself establishment. As such, how can it afford to go against any organ of the establishment of which the government itself forms a vital part?

It is like realization coming in the pivotal branches of statecraft which have, unfortunately, remained engaged in the past, for several years, in their self-perpetuation and self-glorification at the cost of others (other branches of state apparatus) with some institutions overstepping their authority by attempting to subjugate others.

However, that ‘subjugation syndrome’ or ‘subjugation phase’ is almost over now and nowadays no such prima facie evidence has come to the fore that should make us think that subjugation of one or two institutions (or public offices), is being sought after, nevertheless some parliamentarians including former PM Nawaz Sharif have tried to built up a case that the parliament has continued to be the weakest among the national institutions. The impression being created is that the national politics is rife with instances when the repository of public confidence i.e the parliament has continued to be treated for quite a lengthy period of time with hatred, if not with scorn or hubris. And though they are instances of the past with no visible signs of those depravities stretching to the present times, the theory of victimization of parliament and parliamentarians sells well even today among certain classes of the people or among supporters of political parties that have been bearing the brunt while confronted with military juntas and autocrats like, for instance, PPP’s and Bhutto’s demeaning at the hands of General Ziaul Haq and Muslim League leader Nawaz Sharif’s banishment courtesy the iron hand tactics of General Pervez Musharraf.

People heaved a sigh of relief when both these major parties signed Charter of Democracy that aimed at strengthening parliamentary democracy against all possible upheavals and undemocratic overthrows. It meant the empowerment of parliament which actually means the empowerment of the electorate or the people of Pakistan. Unfortunately, this target has not been achieved to this day and there are a number of reasons for this ‘parliamentary failure’. It won’t be appropriate to put all the blame on pillars of the state other than the parliament itself. The overall conduct of a sizeable chunk of parliamentarians- and thus the parliament- has also been responsible for the weakening of the parliament, the main cause being bitter conflicts among the politicians themselves.

PM Abbasi is justified in suggesting the remedy of a grand dialogue among the political forces. The dialogue can bear fruit if the process of dialogue is pursued on a continuous and in a no-holds-barred manner without any reservations. It means moving forward for national integration with total sincerity of purpose and without being influenced by dislikes and narrow prejudices (a common trait of our political class).

At this juncture, the advice coming from Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, also augurs well for the country’s stability and solidarity. It is pragmatic politicking, in fact since the CM has strongly recommended (mostly to his colleagues and party men) putting a full stop on venomous and harmful statements that aim at tarnishing the image of national institutions. It is a welcome move in itself although it has come from a political heavyweight who is known for his restless and fiery nature.