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Democracy subverted in Pakistan

Democracy subverted


The nation is stunned. Ahead of the vote of no-confidence, the prime minister had repeatedly hinted that he had a ‘trump card’ up his sleeve. There were indications all along that something might be amiss: even as political pundits and the media confidently predicted Mr Imran Khan’s defeat in the vote of no-confidence, he seemed unperturbed. No one could have guessed that his last ploy would involve having the democratic order burnt down by a democratically empowered party.

With the parliamentary process pulverised on the orders of a leader who continues to hold it in deep contempt, Pakistan has been thrown into the dark abyss of a constitutional crisis. It seems, in retrospect, that the captain had planned to play this dastardly card all along.

It came as a rude shock: it takes quite the fall for a self-proclaimed ‘fighter’ to display such unsportsmanlike behaviour. By tearing up the rules of the game instead of ‘playing till the last ball’, Mr Khan has dealt a fatal blow to constitutionalism and given rise to the strongest concerns yet that he may not be suited to hold public office within a democratic order.

Read: Imran Khan’s latest move is a further demonstration of his contempt for parliament and the democratic process


Whatever happened in the National Assembly on Sunday violated all rules governing proceedings in the House, particularly those dealing with the motion of no-confidence.

It was obviously staged: it was clear as the Assembly convened that the opposition had the numbers to oust the PM. Before the motion could be put to vote, however, the newly appointed law minister rose to record an ‘objection’ on the basis of Article 5 of the Constitution, which quite benignly states that “loyalty to the State is the basic duty of every citizen”.

The deputy speaker — who had to chair the proceedings as the opposition had moved a motion of no-confidence against the speaker as well — accommodated the objection with indecent haste. Without a shred of proof that the motion had anything to do with the loyalty to the state of any of its movers, the deputy speaker dismissed the motion on the grounds that it had contradicted Article 5.

Read: Detailed ruling on no-trust motion alleges opposition ‘nexus’ with foreign powers

Before the nation could process the shock, the PM — who had been conveniently absent from the session — was on national television. In a pre-planned broadcast, he ‘congratulated’ the nation on the ‘failure’ of the motion of no-confidence and revealed that he had already written to the president to dissolve the Assembly so that fresh elections could be held.

He had been constrained from playing this hand earlier as, constitutionally, he could not have dissolved the Assembly while a vote of no-confidence was pending against him. His request was, again with indecent haste, admitted by the president, who then promptly dismissed the National Assembly.

If Mr Khan’s shocking decision to choose Pervaiz Elahi over his own loyalists for the Punjab chief minister slot appeared to be a departure from principles, his actions yesterday showed that he also lacks the mettle or patience to be the leader he aspires to be.

He could have played the political game like a true sportsperson and still emerged stronger from the loss given the sharp narrative he had spun leading up to the vote. Instead, he chose to thrust the country into a constitutional crisis. The president, too, failed to act with wisdom: instead of looking into the constitutionality of the entire process, he acted as an Imran Khan loyalist and sullied his office with his partisan decision.

The matter is now for the Supreme Court to decide. Meanwhile, some factions seem quite eager to push the narrative that since a fresh election has already been announced, matters should be left to stand as they are. Since the ouster of the government and fresh leadership in parliament was what was desired by all political parties, so be it, they say.

However, this line of argument must be resisted at all levels as it seeks to legitimise every unconstitutional measure taken to force this outcome. The Supreme Court will hopefully provide an adequate remedy for the wrong that has been done and remind all parties that there is only one path to holding any legitimate power, and it will always lie through the Constitution. Anything else would be unacceptable.
 
Comments here Confirms the attitude by many that they dont give a monkey about constitution. No difference between youthias and jihadis at all

if constitution isnt upheld in letter and spirit by the SC this will set a precedent which will open gates to hell . Rule of law / constitution to prevail

Good luck all

Pakistan governments take orders from outside, their constitution is dollars and Riyals. I agree the constitution must be followed otherwise there will be chaos. New elections is the only way forward.
 
Constitution isn't more valuable than toilet paper for elite, I don't know why all of sudden people started equating it to some sort of blasphemy when IK used it to twist crooks. What this Constitution have given to mango man since it's adopted? Justice? Equal Rights? Ensured basic necessities of life, Education, Health, Social security? Assay Constitution ki batti Bana kar elite ki pichwaray main de di Jin ko yeah serve karta hai.
 
if constitution isnt upheld in letter and spirit by the SC this will set a precedent which will open gates to hell . Rule of law / constitution to prevail

Good luck all

Here is the crux!
Rule of Law... where does it draw it's power?
A holy cow, a false idol!
Aren't masses held hostage exactly to this, while elites make a mockery of it every single day?
In fact, do something better... understand the circus and perhaps try to affect real change. This play with words, false promises and smokescreen will go on and on, unless stopped.
You will see and know that people who hide behind this document, uplifting, sanctifying in fact deify it only to deflect and distract masses from what they're themselves doing... playing with words to approve or disapprove actions for personal gains. For that you'll have to see why laws are written the way they are...

Why in fact you'd bring this up in first place?
Fear of chaos, perhaps? ... yet that is exactly what there is except for the power of state and use of violence to do exactly what it does for the people in power and their bidding, keeping their wealth intact and laws that provide a buffer. It is tyranny of a few on masses who can never ever affect real change... there you go ... that exactly is your democracy! A convenient distraction. And as you can see the textbook of change remains the same, see Mossadegh... people's so called representation can be bought, purchased in those high chambers and all this will still be real and legitimate.
In fact cut down/take away the powers and see how many want to rule you... the instrument of subversion and the air of legality itself is a draw, a magnet for the malevolent.

That is to say people's faith in a contract and documentation is taken to it's maximum possible gain.

Anyways...
perhaps this moment becomes a rallying cry for legitimate change.
That though can happen in one of two ways... by ones in power or by masses if they find enough common cause.
But I'd be deluding myself in not saying the obvious, by violence!
Those who bring it by violence, maintain it... keeping violence as their ultimate and final weapon on masses they have distracted in minutiae and procedures/processes.

It is not easy... you'll have to eat a lot of word salad.
 
Is open horse trading part of democratic order in any Western democracy, Patwari?


Dissolving assembly and calling for fresh elections is constitutional crisis?
Corruption- bribery- molesting- is now the way..things have changed over last 20 years..


Kick backs is big crime in west there you will get life imprisment
But KICK backs/bribery is halal in islam per patwaris..they want to nazubillah omit the hadees now..oh yeah we have seen the money been distributed on camera so please stop the shit..and yes if IK did a buy another candidate it was corruption too

Also assets beyond means is big crime in west IRS will **** you..infact all mafias were convicted based upon that.
But it is halal in pakistan..nazubillah hazarat omar answering his critic is now fake story per patwaris

In west floor crossinh buying off candidates is illegeal(e.g in USA when it happened just once, there isnt a law there its just a moral stand!!)
But in pakistan its halal since amanat mein khayanat is now okay in patwarism

Similarly molesting people is bad in west where molestor will never be allowed on TV but in pakistan PTI members sit next together with them and debate (shirtless guy debating on TV) But with paksitanis this is fine..pronographic video creators walk free despite ample evidence

Pakistanis should nazubillah convert to christians as it seems they have more in common with islam then paksitanis have

This is generalization.. we have seen even PTI defending corrupt people to some extent like aleem khan when his files were public in 2018 why was he allowed to join PTI??

Here is the crux!
Rule of Law... where does it draw it's power?
A holy cow, a false idol!
Aren't masses held hostage exactly to this, while elites make a mockery of it every single day?
In fact, do something better... understand the circus and perhaps try to affect real change. This play with words, false promises and smokescreen will go on and on, unless stopped.
You will see and know that people who hide behind this document, uplifting, sanctifying in fact deify it only to deflect and distract masses from what they're themselves doing... playing with words to approve or disapprove actions for personal gains. For that you'll have to see why laws are written the way they are...

Why in fact you'd bring this up in first place?
Fear of chaos, perhaps? ... yet that is exactly what there is except for the power of state and use of violence to do exactly what it does for the people in power and their bidding, keeping their wealth intact and laws that provide a buffer. It is tyranny of a few on masses who can never ever affect real change... there you go ... that exactly is your democracy! A convenient distraction. And as you can see the textbook of change remains the same, see Mossadegh... people's so called representation can be bought, purchased in those high chambers and all this will still be real and legitimate.
In fact cut down/take away the powers and see how many want to rule you... the instrument of subversion and the air of legality itself is a draw, a magnet for the malevolent.

That is to say people's faith in a contract and documentation is taken to it's maximum possible gain.

Anyways...
perhaps this moment becomes a rallying cry for legitimate change.
That though can happen in one of two ways... by ones in power or by masses if they find enough common cause.
But I'd be deluding myself in not saying the obvious, by violence!
Those who bring it by violence, maintain it... keeping violence as their ultimate and final weapon on masses they have distracted in minutiae and procedures/processes.

It is not easy... you'll have to eat a lot of word salad.
Stop blaming the elite
Its not the elite
Ptoblem is middle educated class of pakistan who support this mockery

You can see that everywhere doctors, engnr, shop keepers, on twitter, here on this forum, my corrupt second cousin who is "ٹھیکدار " and the list goes on
 
Don't worry @pak-marine

TLP is ready to save "constitution" for you guys

Looking forward to see you fight beside them to protect "constitution" and "rule of law" in the country

TLP activated at such a curious time.

Of course, it was all natural / a coindience.
 
You cannot play fair and win when foul is the rule of the game.

The whole article in one line "Hey don't resist I wanna rape you".

5 more years and these dynasties will die, all this ugly distorted faces will vanish, nobody will remember them, just 5 more years.

It is not 1980s and 1990s where things could be hidden from masses and they could be fooled easily, the times have changed and so should the deep state of Pakistan.
 
Comments here Confirms the attitude by many that they dont give a monkey about constitution. No difference between youthias and jihadis at all

if constitution isnt upheld in letter and spirit by the SC this will set a precedent which will open gates to hell . Rule of law / constitution to prevail

Good luck all
what constitution? it also demands that MNA and MPA be sadiq and ameen, are they? besides, i have said it before and will say it again, the constitution is not holy, it is not divine, it is a man-made piece of paper, nothing more.
 

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