From Patriot-ism to Party-ism

"Roti, kapra aur makan, mang raha hay herr insan"

"khpala khawra khpal ikhtiar” (Our Land, Our rights)"

"Qadam bharao Nawaz Sharif, Hum tumharay saath hain"

"Jo Quaid Ka Ghaddar Hay Wo Maut Ka Haqdarr hay"

Sorry if anybody is being overlooked, as these are the most common slogans that we see zealous and energetic people chanting on the streets, outside the assemblies, in colourful rallies and during the blood-spattering protests around the country. With all the bad things involved with this slogan-culture, what is required to be praised here is the commitment and devotion of these people towards their respective parties. Without any discrimination, every party worker no matter what he is going through in his personal life due to the party hassles, always ended up saying that his party is the most steadfast and effective group of the country and he is proud to be a part of it. 

These passionate people are so blindly in love with their Quaids that they don’t even take a back in a do or die situation. Killing and being killed has never been an out-of-question scenario for them. Just a thump from their leader would be motivating enough for them to get out of their houses and start combating even against the police, army or the state itself. These (generally poor) people who have no else power in life get very keyed up after getting this new and first-in-a-lifetime right in their hands. This is the very first time that they have a guideline, a book of principle (no matter right or wrong) and a common path to move on. So, they try to prove theirselves and work on a sole purpose that is, to give supremacy to their party. They do it without even thinking that this power would only leave them with a hand full of arms but a pocket without a penny. 

In this love-makes-the-world-go-round saga, we could only think that why the very same people are not as enthusiastic and fervent about their own country? Why is that, we don’t see people who say Jo Mulk Ka Ghaddar Hay Wo Maut Ka Haqdarr hay? That is may be because this attitude will force them to agree with the people who might belong to the other cast or party, but are saying the truth. They, then have to stand for justice, rather than their party agenda. People would be free to think and to say what they want to, despite of defending their leaders’ ideologies. People, no matter what cast they belong to, would start gathering on common grounds, and will quit the politics of disagreement.

-Responsibility and respect of others and their religious beliefs are also part of freedom-

Political parties’ disrespect towards each other is one of the main causes of anarchy in our country. No it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong in having reservations or diversification of ideas between two individuals, nor there is an issue to have a leader for guidance. The problem arises when you start acting as a blind conformist of  a particular figure of power.  The dilemma is that in this sightless following, those who are supposed to strive for peoples’ rights start skirmishing on non-issues. Why is it that a party member has to disagree even on the issue where there is nothing to differ on? To show loyalty toward their leader they forget to differentiate between the right and wrong. This eventually ends up in cutting the throat of their own brothers.

A party should be a tool to make people work for their county, but somehow people surrender themselves for the party, to work as a tool against others, completely ignoring the responsibility of striving for the country. Till date, rivalry between groups has caused great social and political disarray and countless ethnic killings in this part of land. The sad part is that even religious sectarian parties have also led to violence in the society. The need of the time is to evaluate your leadership, to check that either your party is taking you towards a nationalistic struggle or the war of their own interests.

It is very important to regain peace in the society that members of all political parties shall conduct themselves in a manner that respects the rights and democratic interests of all citizens, political parties and shall avoid behavior that brings the whole electoral system into disgrace!