This might be about 2016. PTI’s popularity was rising in the educated middle class. An Imranian approach was always to present himself neutrally when meeting someone, then gradually reveal his true opinions. The theory was always that Imran was Pakistan’s only honest and sincere politician. We have consistently opposed the involvement of the establishment in politics and state affairs, regardless of which political party is in power. We openly expressed our stance against the coercion of sacred institutions everywhere. This deeply disturbed a supporter of Imran, and he emotionally stated that Pakistan’s strength lies in strengthening institutions. He was a humorous poet, but we never saw him smiling, or perhaps our presence in his gatherings made him melancholic. So, we stopped associating with him. Later on social media, due to our anti-establishment inclination, some Imran supporters made bitter comments. In response, we decided to block all Imran supporters and decided not to have any association with them. This polarization is now widely discussed, stemming from Imran’s style of politics, causing divisions in Pakistani society.
In 2022, when Imran’s government was allegedly toppled by the establishment, Imran and his followers gradually became anti-establishment. However, the nature of their institutional opposition was not the same as ours. Neither Imran Khan nor his educated supporters ever supported civilian governance. They still saw the support of institutions as the only way to ascend the ladder of power. Imran persisted in his political approach until the end. It’s undeniable that the educated elite, former generals, bureaucrats, and perhaps some present service officers were still supporting him. Imran tried to capitalize on it. Initially, he initiated a public campaign to appoint his favored person as the head of an institution. After its failure, he ran a smear campaign on social media against the new head. This overconfidence was shattered when the incident of May 9th occurred. We don’t condemn the events of May 9th because the institutions of Pakistan were equally responsible as Imran Khan. They had adopted Imran-style politics and sustained it for ten years. In other words, whatever happened with PTI workers on May 9th was destined to happen.
Today, PTI is facing the worst political coercion nationwide. It has been pushed to the extent that it has been deprived of its electoral symbols. PTI workers and leaders are abducted, and violence is inflicted upon them. Press conferences are conducted under duress, and they are forced to renounce politics. This political coercion is extreme and highly condemnable. It’s regrettable that a popular party of the so-called literate Pakistani public is not being given the right to participate as a political party in the 2024 elections. The judiciary is, as always, playing its role as a subordinate institution of the military establishment. Many people are holding PTI solely responsible and presenting superficial political, military, and judicial coercion justifications, which are a very superficial attitude.
It is said that the worst democracy is better than martial law, and democracy is the best revenge. However, what changes have the past sixteen years of democracy brought to the country’s political system and the conditions of the people? In my opinion, the conditions have not improved but rather worsened. Today, the struggle for power continues with the support of the military elite in political parties of the aristocracy. Politics is played not in the public arena but within the corridors of powerful institutions and the halls of justice. Even now, wealthy politicians and landlords in every constituency are spending millions to contest elections. Can a common man represent in the current democratic system? No, he doesn’t even have the money to submit nomination papers. Will rich politicians, after winning elections, serve the people? Certainly not. They have invested to fulfill their interests after the elections, even at the cost of the poor’s blood.
Today, I ask the weeping Imran supporters, was it right to establish a government by accepting the legitimacy of the 2018 elections? If yes, then the 2024 elections are also right. Yesterday, your Imran, seated on the shoulders of the establishment, entered the field to strengthen the institutions. Today, the army’s oldest horse, Nawaz Sharif, is in the field for the fourth time to become the Prime Minister. If obtaining power with the help of the establishment was legitimate in 2018, it is also legitimate in 2024. But we opposed this style of politics in 2018 and still oppose it in 2024. The truth is that we are fed up with this electoral politics. We understand that many capitalist mafias are exploiting the poor people everywhere in Pakistan, and in the absence of political and class awareness among the masses, they will continue to do so. Having any hope for public well-being from the current capitalist mafia democratic system is futile.