Reset of the stakeholder mindset

For reset to happen, an upset is a pre-requisite. For an upset to happen, a review of every act and consequence is mandatory. For a review to happen, an acceptance of things that have gone wrong in the past is essential.

For an acceptance of wrong doing to happen, a reduction in ego, arrogance and hedonism is absolutely crucial. In the present state of affairs in the country, the need for reset is a reluctant acknowledgement across important stakeholders. Whether this acknowledgement is accompanied by the rethink, review, redesign and redo of things spinning out of control or not is still a work in process.

Politics is all about the stakeholder dynamics. The interplay between establishment and the government is a huge part of political strategy the world over. Politics is all about creating and distorting perceptions. Media is a key vehicle to execute political communication. From Hitler’s time propaganda to the present time of TikTok, the media is a huge influencer on opinion making and opinion changing. State institutions including the judicial system is a prime stakeholder in providing check and balance to the political tendency of deviating and misusing power to benefit power brokers. How a government is working with or against these stakeholders will define the success of power politics or the politics for the powerless.

We are witnessing history in the country. For the first time, a government has been removed through a vote of no-confidence and the coalition of 15 parties have won the vote of confidence. For the first time a government has been removed without corruption cases against them by the 15 parties, establishment, media and other state institutions altogether. And, for the very first time all stakeholders have not only been exposed, but their power is also under immense pressure to reset their intent, behaviour and actions. Real history is unfolding that shows how all the forces in the country backed by forces outside the country have started showing signs or making a pretence of a reset. Some examples are:

1. The reset of the public – Public sentiments vary for politics and politicians. The mass lower class known as socio-economic classes C, D and E were the main voters in the hardly 50% voter turnout traditionally. As you went up the classes, the voting percentage decreased as these classes were indifferent and cynical about the electoral process. The mass vote of C, D and E was also a vote based on local leaders who conferred benefits or coerced votes due to their local power. The class belonging to E was hardly aware of anybody except the wadera who treated them like bonded labour and would take their ID cards and tell them to vote on a particular electoral sign. Classes D and C were looking at basic benefits like electricity supply, gas provision and pakki pavements in their communities as voting returns for whoever could provide them these amenities. PPP in Sindh and PML-N in Punjab perfected this art of exploiting and providing basic development benefits right at the end of their term to shift votes in their favour.

This lasted for decades till PTI started rising and making voters think about their vote. The first to convert from non-voters to voters was the socio-economic class B who admitted that in 2013 they gave their first ever vote. The set pattern was to exploit the masses and rule over main provinces. This pattern is undergoing a reset. In the present movement against a government, the masses have been startled into thinking differently. Since this change of government is not based on corruption, but more on standing up against the big bullies local and especially US bullies, the ordinary man has come out of their shell and started talking about how to protect their country from imposters. The viewership of Tiktok videos on this topic says it all. They are in billions and still coming. This a huge rethink and reset of the masses that for long could not think beyond the next meal or a referenced job or a transformer on the electricity pole.

2. The reset of institutional heads – This reset is at an initial stage. Head of institutions find it tough to give up their jobs due to perks and risks. They are mostly bureaucrats trained to look away instead of taking a stand. However, some have the guts. Lt. Gen Muzammil Hussain, the Chairman of WAPDA, has resigned as he could not get along with the new government. The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, has also resigned. For many others, keeping mum is still prevalent. The present Head of NADRA, Tariq Malik, was threatened in 2014 by PML-N not to give thumb impressions of a disputed constituency. He had to flee the country to save his family. Similarly, Dr Rizwan, the Head of FIA, investigating Shehbaz Sharif’s money laundering case suffered a heart attack and died.

3. The reset of media – Media is a business. Whosoever gives them business, gets to build or distort narratives. Media owners are part of big diverse businesses who use media to assert clout in expanding or protecting their businesses. Normally the government is a big customer as they dish out huge advertisements in return for favourable coverage. The PTI government proved to be bad for the media as they were not indulging in millions of advertisements. The PDM government has already dished out Rs 136 crores worth of ads to the media. This tells the story of which story the media will present. But, here is what is happening despite money and pressure. Media works on viewership. As the public stops watching channels that are blatantly biased, the media channels are forced to moderate their policy. From showing no Imran khan speeches to showing all of them is due to the dwindling viewership of those not showing the coverage. Similarly, the YouTube viewership of anchors results in huge money. With anchors giving a biased picture losing following and those doing the opposite minting millions, the enslaved anchors are also forced to change their script. It may not be a change of heart or mind, but it definitely is a reset in what “pays” more in the long run.

Mindsets are almost impossible to change. What we are witnessing is the mindset of the powerful stakeholders who are stunned by the set resolve of the public not to be taken in. For these stakeholders, there may not be a change of heart, but a reluctant change of tactics. That itself is unprecedented socio political history. The next few months will definitely be worth the historian’s effort to witness an amazing struggle of power of the coalition of stakeholders versus the power of the stakeholder i.e. public. Who wins this battle will determine the direction of the future of the country.

The writer is a columnist, consultant, coach, and an analyst