“Incompetent people use state machinery to suppress opponents”

Omar Sarfraz Cheema, PTI Leader

Witch hunts against political opponents and journalists will fail to yield desired results as the status quo parties have encountered the real opposition this time around. The use of state machinery to bring the opponents to their knees is a normal practise of these incompetent people.

But now, it is a different era, and we have an entirely different opponent who is not ready to step back from the promise of standing with the oppressed masses. In the past, the PML-N and PPP continued taking terms while opposing each other just for public consumption but, in reality, safeguarding the interests of each other. One party formed the government, and the other played the role of a friendly opposition.

Both parties signed a charter of democracy to loot the country during their respective terms. Now the situation is different after the entry of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the third force and the largest political party in the country. All of the status quo’s forces have now united behind a single goal: the removal of Imran Khan from national politics. They have already achieved their first target of ending corruption cases by amending the NAB laws. Now the incompetent and fascist regime has resorted to the old tactics of lifting political opponents, and the journalists are not ready to take its side.

It is a pity that the fascist regime is booking journalists and politicians under the same law used by the British to suppress the freedom movement. Cases of mutiny are registered with malafide attention, which is why these people (both journalists and politicians) are getting bail. Suppressing opponents with government machinery and pressurising judges through audio and video tapes is a routine practise of these fascist people. Maryam Nawaz played audio and video clips of a judge, Arshad Malik, at a press conference in an attempt to blackmail the judiciary and mislead the public at large.

All these efforts to bulldoze the political opposition and silence sane voices will fail. Everybody knows that these people (coalition partners) have come into power to save their own corruption. Incompetence and bad policies have led the country to the brink of disaster.

The only objective of the fascist regime is to teach a lesson to its opponents at a time when the kitty is empty and the masses are bearing the brunt of unprecedented inflation. All the efforts of these fascist rulers will fail to yield the desired results.

They should keep in mind that the nation will not forgive them. PTI has already filed a case with the Apex Court against amendments to the NAB laws. On coming into power, PTI will restore the cases and make these people accountable for all the wrongdoings.

“Such tactics have always  given rise to a strong reaction and resentment”

Amir ul Azeem, JI Leader

It is not something new in our country, as booking opponents in fictitious cases is a tactic used by every government. It is and will always be taken as the wrong policy. It has taken the situation from bad to worse in the past and will continue to do so in the future as well. Such tactics have always given rise to a strong reaction, resentment, and halt, which have badly damaged our political system.

The ongoing practise of harassing opponents will only intensify and prolong the political uncertainty. We cannot afford the politics of revenge anymore, as our kitty is empty and people are facing hardships due to unprecedented inflation. Making ends meet is extremely difficult for the unfortunate. Prolonged political unrest will only harm the economy and businesses, making the lives of ordinary people even more miserable. We have seen the registration of cases and past rulers going behind bars.

Then already-arrested NAB-tainted people got a clean chit and were presented before the public as angels. Ministers and advisors going behind bars and those in prisons entering the power corridors is a vicious cycle that has been going on for years.

The country and the masses are mere spectators and the ultimate sufferers of such wars to grab power. It is an ongoing battle between political parties over safeguarding vested interests, which has ultimately destroyed our politics and the country. The masses are annoyed and want to change this system.

Sanity should prevail, and both the rulers and the opposition should try to extinguish the fire instead of continuing the practise of adding fuel to it. Now all the stakeholders should think about the country and the masses and play their due roles to get rid of this system of exploitation. The political forces should reconsider their policies, mend their ways, and work for the betterment of the country.

Instead of suppressing their opponents, whether they are politicians or journalists, the rulers should look for better options.

There is a need to resolve all the issues through mutual consultation. Use of the police or other state institutions for silencing opponents has not worked in the past, and such tactics will only damage the country by prolonging political instability. We cannot afford such a scenario for a long period as the country is passing through a critical phase. It is our judiciary’s responsibility to play its proper role in effecting positive social change.

“Both I and my party are against the registration of politically motivated cases”

Nadeem Afzal Chan, PPP Leader

In the past, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has faced political persecution at the hands of dictators and opposition parties. Party leadership and workers have faced politically motivated cases and spent a lot of time behind bars.

Both I and my party are against the registration of politically motivated cases and sending opponents to jail. Such practise is contrary to democratic norms and a violation of the law of the land. I believe that legal procedure should be followed when dealing with all cases, and it should be clearly visible to the public at large. Our struggle is for democracy, the supremacy of the constitution, and the rule of law. As such, we strongly believe and desire that there should not be even a little doubt of political victimisation while dealing with the cases of opponents.

I believe that the law should take its course if there is any incidence or even a complaint of political victimisation. We believe in freedom of expression and, as such, are against pressuring journalists in any way. At the same time, we need to understand that no one is above the law. If a person commits a crime, he should be held accountable. By referring to it as political victimisation, one cannot avoid having cases filed against him or her for any wrongdoing. Affiliation with any political party or a certain profession cannot be used as an excuse for committing any crime.

The law should run its course in order to maintain social justice and harmony. Both the political parties and the representative bodies of journalists should bring their own houses into order. Following party discipline and political values is the responsibility of every politician. Political parties should enforce discipline and ensure that workers are following political ethics.

They (political parties) must take appropriate action in the event of violations of party discipline and political ethics. This mechanism will help politicians avoid falling into troubled waters. Not only politicians but also journalists should follow the ethics of their respective professions.

Instead of becoming the mouthpiece of one political party or another, journalists should focus on fulfilling the responsibility of objective reporting. A journalist who starts supporting a political party is no longer a journalist.

It is up to the journalists’ bodies to prepare a code of conduct and ensure its implementation in letter and spirit in the larger interest of the nation and the media fraternity. These bodies should take action against people indulging in practises defaming the journalist profession. The absence of such a mechanism or code of conduct can create a vacuum, which will ultimately prove disastrous.