Did the Judicial Commission and dharnas even benefit PTI?

The Judicial Commission has finally given its conclusion that the 2013 elections were fair and in accordance with the law. Some who are against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) would perhaps only see this as an opportunity to mock the 126-day dharna (protest) which apparently for many only benefited one man, DJ Butt.

On the other hand, those in favour of PTI would perhaps see this as another failure of the system to deliver justice and would conclude that the Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk is also incapable of holding a fair inquiry.

This is exactly where we fail time and again that we tend to adopt extreme views and only see things as black and white. That the dharna will only be deemed successful if the assemblies are dissolved, re-elections are called and Imran Khan not only gets to contest again, but also win and becomes prime minister and anything short of that would not suffice. It is more likely than not that even in the mind of Imran that is how he would also rate the dharna to be successful.

Well that is not happening, but I as a Pakistani still feel that all is not lost. The formation of the Judicial Commission is a good precedent for future elections. The right of any party, candidate or citizen to inquire into rigging should be guaranteed and protected and it has been done so. But was it necessary for thousands of citizens to sit on the streets for 126 days in the capital, for the media channels to become obsessed with the same news and choose sides? And was it really necessary for a party to spend millions to get the government to form this commission?

No. It shouldn’t have been so.

Inflexibility of the most moronic kind was exhibited by all stake holders and it only dented the system, disgraced the country, and frustrated the people. In future, leaders should most definitely strive for accountability, transparency, and good practices but not with the aim to benefit their own politics but to benefit the people at large.

The people voted and chose Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the centre. They voted and chose PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). They voted and kept Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in power in Sindh and Karachiites still swing towards Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). One may not like the parties for which people vote and the solution should be to make people more aware of better alternates and ridding them of any undue influence or fear under which they may be voting.

If one does not accept that these parties – however corrupt, ineffective, and violent as they may be – still have mandate of the people then one would continue to cry foul and claim rigging, and would end up exactly where they were 126 days ago.

In future, these 126 days could be spent in understanding the people, their fears, and their aspirations, and serving them accordingly, hoping that they may one day vote for you. And even if they don’t, one should still continue to serve them, after all, they still are your people and countrymen even if they aren’t your voters.

from The Express Tribune Blog http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/28689/did-the-judicial-commission-and-dharnas-even-benefit-pti/