Breaking the stranglehold of fascism

If any doubt still lingered about the darkening shadows of fascism across the country, the events of the last few days should have removed that. We are not staring into the prospect any longer. We are literally engulfed in this evil enactment.

The sinister manner in which a perfectly democratic initiative of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership of dissolving their own governments and reverting back to the people for winning their mandate has been manipulated by the criminal conglomerate speaks volumes of their own lack of faith in democracy as also of their evil intentions to strip the electoral process of every vestige of being free, fair and transparent.

Not only excessively partisan individuals including one who secured relief from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for financial transgression have been chosen as leaders of the interim set-ups in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, the orchestrators have moved quickly to replace the provincial administrations with partisan officers of dubious integrity and credentials. The obvious intention is to influence the outcome of the elections in favour of the incumbent coterie of convicts, undertrial criminals and absconders and derail every remaining hope of democracy returning to Pakistan.

The Machiavellian drama which has been staged for more than a couple of years has two specific intentions: to render the country subservient to outside influence and replace the nascent democracy with a system which would be easily manipulated by the orchestrators. Imran Khan’s approach towards building an independent foreign policy to advance Pakistan’s national strategic paradigm and safeguard the interests of its people did not fit into that sell-out. That is why he became the first target of a foreign-dictated and locally-collaborated conspiracy which was enacted in a brazen and brutal manner in the middle of the night with all institutions of the state lined up like sacrificial lambs to obey the command of the masters of the operation. In fact, they have either remained comatose since then, or engaged in advancing the interests of their patrons.

To ensure the continuity of the process of criminalisation of the state and rendering its institutions permanently dysfunctional, a cabal of criminals was inducted in the annals of power. They have since moved with alacrity to secure themselves from the looming threat of accountability and strengthen their hold on all echelons of the government by appointing individuals of putrid character at key positions right across the administration. They have also enacted self-serving amendments in the NAB laws to render their corruption cases beyond its jurisdiction and, consequently, that of the relevant accountability courts. Dozens of open-and-shut cases have since been referred back to the institution. As per past tradition, it is feared that their record would either be destroyed completely, or tampered with in a manner that its contents would no longer remain prosecutable.

Pakistan has been effectively reduced to being a state that is operating at the whims of individuals of shady character and dubious intentions – without law and without any efficient and transparent institution. Its reins are managed by a mafia of convicts, undertrial criminals and absconders who have all been given carte blanche reprieve by the judiciary to continue their spree of loot and plunder. In this abominable undertaking, they enjoyed full support of those who initiated this project of destabilising Pakistan. This partnership is neither uncertain, nor its perpetrators lurking in the dark any longer. Their mark is crudely inscribed on everything that is now happening in the country.

The evil actors may have achieved all this, but the outstanding job that remains to be accomplished is the elimination of Khan from the political domain. Having been stung by his unprecedented resurgent popularity among the grassroots multitudes to having seen it played out among the charged and passionate crowds of people who surged to countless rallies that he addressed throughout the country after his ouster to spraying his body with bullets whose scars he carries, this is a job that the operators have not been able to finish yet. In fact, in the process, Khan has assumed a stature of being an embodiment of grit, courage, political tenacity and moral strength which is unparalleled either among his predecessors, or contemporaries. He is no longer just a person. Khan is a phenomenon who is writing a bold and beneficent script for Pakistan’s future. This has made his enemies menacingly desperate and they are willing to resort to the most heinous and evil tactics that may be required to finish the job with the prospect of his physical elimination being top of the list of priorities.

The next few months come laced with countless possibilities, all revolving around Khan. He will remain the epicentre of triggering political developments, crystallising strategic initiatives and shaping a new future for the country that has never been conceived before. In the process, he has to overwhelm the demonic presence of individuals whose espousal of criminalisation of the country is increasing in proportion to furthering of their personal stakes in this enterprise. They have to be stopped in this morbid venture. This is a job which Khan has initiated and he remains resolute and steadfast in guiding it to its culmination.

The elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be a major exercise in this endeavour. Of course, the criminal cabal and their protectors and patrons will do everything possible to rig the process, as has been the sordid history of this exercise in the past. The challenge for Khan and all those people who support him and his vision of a new Pakistan is to not only expose their nefarious designs, but to stop them from indulging in this criminality. In addition to the party and its workers, it is the foremost responsibility of the people of Pakistan to stand sentinel to ensure the transparency of the election process and help Khan emerge victor with a landslide.

Only the power of the ballot can reverse the tide. Here is the opportunity that we should not let go waste. The stranglehold of fascism must be ripped apart, as also the arrogance and perfidy of its protectors and patrons.

The writer is a political and security strategist and founder of Regional Peace Institute. He is a former SAPM and currently a senior fellow at the King’s College London