Pakistan On Boil

By Saad Hafiz

PAKISTAN currently faces significant tensions on three critical fronts. First, there is a tug-of-war between the government and the judiciary. Second, the civil-military establishment is in a face-off with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Third, the schism between the ruling elite and ordinary citizens is growing. Moreover, the state’s authoritarian tendencies and heavy-handed tactics are exacerbating the situation.

Judges of the Supreme Court have clashed with each other, and a majority of the justices challenged the legality of the government’s actions and decisions. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and some of his fellow judges adopted a view which appeared to be similar to that of the government. This has led to growing tension as the allegedly politicised courts resist the government’s diktats. It has created instability and uncertainty, with the two main pillars of the state seemingly at odds with each other.

The ongoing political tensions between the government and the PTI show no signs of easing. It has become a relentless game of cat and mouse, with neither side willing to back down. As long as the opposition’s rallies and demonstrations continue to have low turnouts, the government seems determined to maintain its hard-line stance. This is partly due to the strict measures implemented by law enforcement authorities, who cracked down firmly on each move made by the opposition. The government, though, appears determined to avoid any use of force that could result in bloodshed and unrest.

However, the situation may change if PTI can significantly increase its numbers at future rallies. In that scenario, law enforcement authorities would likely be compelled to reevaluate their strategies and tactics, potentially adopting a more cautious or nuanced approach in advising the government on how to respond. A delicate balance, thus, hangs in the air, with both sides jockeying for position and public support.

The government is treading carefully, determined to avoid any escalation of the current tensions, as it has set its sights on two critical objectives in the coming weeks – the enactment of a controversial constitutional reforms package and the successful hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Cognisant of the high stakes involved, the government is walking a delicate tightrope, tempering its response to the opposition’s increasingly assertive manoeuvres.

On the other hand, the opposition sees the next few weeks as a pivotal window of opportunity to disrupt the government’s plans and seize the initiative by mobilising street power. Sensing the government’s reluctance to meet force with force, the opposition is increasing the pressure by staging mass rallies and protests aimed at overwhelming the authorities and forcing their hand.

The high-stakes political standoff is poised to intensify, as both sides manoeuvre for advantage and a decisive win in this critical phase of the ongoing conflict. The final outcome remains uncertain as the confrontation unfolds across the political landscape and the streets. This culmination will not only determine the immediate future but could also have profound, long-lasting implications for the country’s stability and power dynamics in the months and years ahead.

Moreover, a growing number of people feel that their leaders are out of touch and unresponsive to the needs of the common people. This has increased public discontent and protests, particularly in seething trouble spots like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. People are mobilising to take to task the elite institutions manifested in movements like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). The internal power struggles and challenges pose a serious threat to the country’s stability.

The government’s harsh crackdown on dissent, including surveillance, arbitrary arrests, and violence, along with a severe economic crisis, has further alienated the population and eroded public trust. The rapid dismantling of democratic institutions, including the disregard for PTI’s electoral mandate and the crackdown on dissent and free speech, directly contradicts the founding principles of the nation. This authoritarian shift poses a grave threat to the hard-won freedoms secured by previous generations. 

The legitimacy of a government comes from governing well and improving the lives of its citizens, not from using force to control them. However, by focusing solely on political control instead of good governance, successive governments have overlooked this basic social contract, which has harmed the country and its people.

To make progress, the government and the opposition need to stop focusing on revenge and punishment and instead work together to form alliances and make meaningful institutional changes. This will require a careful re-evaluation of the military’s role in governing and finding political solutions to long-standing issues that fuel regional conflicts and separatist movements.

Instead of sticking to failed strategies, Pakistani leaders must exhibit the courage and vision to take a new approach – one that emphasises inclusive dialogue, sharing power, and strengthening democratic institutions. Only by recommitting to its core responsibilities can the system regain its credibility and start to heal the deep divisions it has caused.

Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer 

• Saad Hafiz is a Pakistani analyst and commentator. He regularly contributes to Kashmir Observer. Feedback at: [email protected]

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