The Whirlwind or The Storm?

Following the outbreaks of cholera and measles which have claimed the lives of more than three hundred children and sickened several thousands in the northern Sindh districts, now the outbreak of one unknown mysterious diseases in the same region has killed more than 360 domestic animals including buffaloes, cows and goats. Much to the horror of the animal bearers, the large number of deaths have been reported within a week in Ghotki, and Sukkur. According to the villagers buffaloes and cows feel congested in breathing and die in a short time span. The sudden death of buffaloes, cows and goats have forced the breeders to watch their means of livelihood die in front of their eyes. Moreover, some I.5 million domestic animals are believed to be suffering from this unknown disease. Shockingly, the provincial livestock and animal husbandry department is in a deep slumber due to which no solution has been initiated in this regard. On the contrary, the villagers have reported the matter to the media to highlight the issue of this mysterious disease in the repeated disaster battered districts.

Meanwhile everybody takes a deep snooze on the above and many other grieve issues, Dr. Tahirul Qadri dropped on Pakistani soil like a para-shooter apparently well trained by some aviation, with the slogans of electoral reforms through Care taker set up to be installed with the help of Army and Judiciary and took over the Pakistani political scene by storm with his arrival and address at a huge public gathering in Lahore on December 23, 2012. Recently he pointed out a major electoral reform needed in Peoples representative Act 1976 which speaks about 3 to 5 years punishment on corrupt practices but there is no mechanism to do so as it refer the case to Session judge which take ages. The Para-shooters and his instructors wanted to side line two main stream political parties in next elections, even at the cost of democracy. Now Pakistan Peoples Party and Muslim Nawaz league can make amendment immediately in section 82 of representative Act 1976 empowering the office of Chief Election commissioner to punish corrupt practices themselves like India to put this controversy to rest and take air out of Qadri’s balloon to make the system more just, efficient and transparent. Fukhroo Bhai is capable to enforce this law being respected and consensus “Chief” of Election commission. But the objective of Fair and just elections cannot be achieved unless big/large constituencies are reduced to its half size, enabling middle class to participate, this can only be done through constitutional amendments not by street politics.

Dr Qadri is well read person and good orator and a Canadian National now. He has been a social and religious figure for more than two decades. His is a centre-right ideology blended with the concept of social Islam. This ideology borrows from ‘Suleh-e-Kul’ from the traditional Sufi version of inclusive social and religious thought, which later on was further developed into the pluralistic Islam of the Indian subcontinent. This moderate, inclusive interpretation has dominantly been nonviolent. The ideology has been under criticism for being a status quo force in the Indian subcontinent as being supportive to monarchs and dictators. However, Tahirul Qadri amalgamates traditional thought with social Islam and vows to eradicate conservative, historical and non-progressive social structures. He dreams of creating an egalitarian society.

The MQM’s support for him manifests its keenness to represent the urban and semi-urban classes of Punjab. One of the biggest hurdles has been the MQM’s secular colour, which is not acceptable to the increasingly right leaning urban middle classes of Punjab. Standing shoulder to shoulder with a man who is a strong proponent of Sunni barelvi Islam, the followers of which make more than 80 percent of the MQM’s supporters, would give the MQM both internal strength as well as acceptance in the still majority Sunni barelvi Punjab. The MQM’s ideological stand against the status quo forces completely overlaps Dr Qadri’s agenda hence making them see eye-to-eye with each other. Leaving the establishment’s role aside, there is a lot in common and complimentary between Dr Tahirul Qadri and the MQM.

No one knows what will come out of this but one thing is clear: the real ruling classes in Pakistan have once again asserted themselves in a quest to gain lost ground and media must watch closely his motives and moves in their own interest.