PDM’s arrested development

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has launched a public protest campaign starting with public rallies and meetings highlighting the issue of growing inflation and its impact on the common man. Maulana Fazlur Rahman appears to be confident that the perfect storm is here to send Imran Khan packing. He’s sadly mistaken, because now he’s playing on a different pitch.

Gone are the days when the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) could cash in on the conflict between Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and General Zia ul Haq. That was the only time when a charismatic leader like Bhutto was compelled to come to terms with PNA and agree to fresh polls. But then the PNA had stalwarts like Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s father, Mufti Mehmood, Maulana Syed Abul Aala Maududi, Shah Ahmed Noorani, Shujaat Hussain’s father Zahoor Ellahi, Khan Abdul Wali Khan and (Retd.) Air Marshal Asghar Khan. Unfortunately, just as the draft agreement was ready to be signed by Bhutto and PNA leader Mufti Mahmood, Gen. Zia ul Haq imposed Martial Law under the pretext of the deteriorating law and order situation, deliberately derailing the process of democracy.

Cut to the present. Now Maulana Fazlur Rahman has announced a nationwide protest against inflation demanding fresh polls. The 66-year-old Maulana is quite optimistic about the success of his campaign. He is sure that with the help and full support of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali and Sirajul Haq, he will be able to remove Imran Khan and compel him to agree on mid-term polls in the country.

But perhaps the Maulana is not aware that time has not stood still. Unlike the 70s, the civilian government and the armed forces are on the same page. And above all, the players are not of the same calibre. The spotless Maulana Mufti Mehmood has been replaced by the controversial Maulana Fazlur Rahman; instead of the visionary Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, there is the novice Maulana Anas Noorani; a mediocre Sirajul Haq is in place of the renowned scholar Syed Abul Aala Maudoodi, and the stalwart politician Khan Abdul Wali Khan has been followed by the weak Asfandyar Wali Khan. From the sublime to the mundane.

In order to show his strength, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, in November last year, gave a call for an ‘Azaadi March’ with the support of other opposition parties. But upon getting a lukewarm response from Bilawal Bhutto and Shahbaz Sharif, he was left with no choice but to call off the march after a 13-day long dharna in the federal capital. However, the Maulana claimed that he had called off the anti-government sit-in after an assurance of a settlement from the Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Leaders play a very critical role in political movements: they bring together a group of committed followers, mobilize resources, create and recognize opportunities, prepare workable strategies, frame demands acceptable to the general public, and then bring about results. And above all, the leadership role requires accepting responsibility to create conditions that enable others to collectively share the burden in case of any untoward situation.

A movement is only as successful as its leader’s unwavering commitment and dependability. There is strength in numbers, however followers look up to their leaders to provide support, which allows the movement to prosper. If the leader gives a call for a rally and instead of personally participating, if he prefers to remain indoors, it will defeats the purpose of the rally. This is exactly what happened in this rally.

Both PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz were present in the city but neither showed up. Instead, Mr Shehbaz issued a directive to provincial and district presidents of the party to ensure participation of workers and the masses in the demonstrations across the country. It was indeed a demonstration of cowardice.

The truth is that the PNA movement to oust Bhutto was strong, impactful, and effective whereas the PDM is a loosely knitted combination of different ideologies. So much so that the PDM members even failed to reach a consensus on issues like the resignations from the assemblies. They could not develop a common understanding and as such, have failed to make their presence felt as a combined opposition united on a single agenda – to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Both the PPP and PLM (N) know very well that the PDM is a zero-probability event. The better option is that instead of spending any further time beating a wall and hoping that it will become a door, they should prepare themselves for the next election scheduled in 2023.

It is time for a reality check, because false optimism, sooner or later leads to disillusionment, anger, and helplessness.

The writer is Sub Editor, Bol News