Photo: Messenger
In the midst of an economic crisis, political instability intensified in Asia's nuclear-armed country, Pakistan. The country's politics took a new turn when Imran Khan's government fell in a no-confidence vote last year, sparking public outrage on the streets. The caretaker government has arrested all the top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, including party chief Imran Khan.
He has been sentenced and declared ineligible for election by the court. The Election Commission has revoked the party's election symbol (the cricket bat). As a result, PTI candidates were required to vote independently on different symbols. The party was not allowed to hold election rallies anywhere. Indefatigable PTI candidates could not speak for themselves anywhere except on social media.
Against such a backdrop, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf [PTI] surprised everyone by competing in the national elections on February 8, 2024. Even if it didn’t win an outright majority in the final election results, the PTI's dominant position in Pakistani politics sends a fresh message to the world.
Political commentators opined that one thing is evident from this rigged, violent, and biassed election: the people favour Imran Khan. According to polls, Imran Khan's PTI gained more seats in the National Assembly than Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) or Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party. The massive public support brought Imran Khan back to the spotlight. The way his party has turned around by participating in the election despite all the odds is really commendable.
The elections in Pakistan pique the curiosity of all Bangladeshis. There is debate in Bangladeshi political circles on whether the country's major opposition party could create such a scenario short of abstaining from the election, given Imran Khan's party's amazing achievement in the face of a thousand obstacles. What were the takeaways from Pakistan's election for the boycotters? Will the election in Pakistan and the comeback of Imran's party teach Bangladesh's political parties anything?
Since its founding, Pakistan has never been a democratic country. No Pakistani administration has ever completed its whole time in office in the 77-year history of Pakistan. At every turn, there were assassinations, coups, removals, and usurpations. The country is still seen as a failed state due to its appalling inability to establish democratic institutions. Due to the military dictatorship, Pakistan was unable to have national elections before 1970. The Awami League secured a landslide victory in the 1970 elections, but the military dictators disregarded the outcome.
Without a doubt, the military's immense influence is to blame for the nation's socioeconomic problems and political instability. They have never relinquished control of politics to politicians. The military exerts power over the country's political landscape, sometimes directly and sometimes in the face of apparent civilian authority. Even the nonpartisan caretaker administration established for the election is susceptible to military influence. What message does Imran Khan's unwavering commitment to politics—evident in his recent election victory—transmit in light of this?
Several political parties in Bangladesh withdrew from the twelfth parliamentary elections, citing a variety of excuses, including arrest and harassment. They always claim that their leaders are being persecuted, that there is no level playing field, and that free, fair, and impartial elections are not guaranteed. Now the question is: Is the situation in Bangladesh worse than that in Pakistan? Thousands of leaders from Imran Khan's PTI have been arrested. Many key party officials were unable to participate in the election, even as independent candidates and many key figures resigned under pressure. Nonetheless, Imran Khan remained committed to his mission and didn’t boycott the election.
Compared to that, nothing happened in Bangladesh. Due to violent agitations, including strikes and blockades, only a few opposition leaders were arrested. Imran's party was not given a symbol and was not even allowed to contest as a party in the election; in contrast, political parties in Bangladesh were allowed to take part with their own emblems. Imran Khan has shown that, apart from party leaders and symbols, elections can be won through smart involvement. It is impossible to stay at home while also advancing democracy by boycotting elections. Political parties in Bangladesh should learn from his political wisdom.
In Bangladesh, certain political parties called for a caretaker administration. But how was Pakistan's caretaker government? Since the Anwarul Haque Kakar-led caretaker administration took office, it has been working to bring a certain party or coalition to power in the nation. The Pakistan Election Commission (PEC) has shown little effort to level the playing field for political parties. They tried their best to oust Imran Khan and his party from the election. That is why Hussain Haqqani, a Pakistani journalist and professor, classified the election as a 'fixed election' rather than a 'rigged election.
Even though a caretaker administration was in charge of elections, it was completely subservient to the military.
However, the PTI did not withdraw from the race. They progressed slowly under intimidation and coercion. They were confident in the people’s support. Finally, against all odds, the PTI won the election, demonstrating that quitting the field is not a wise decision. Because when a person is popular, everyone rallies behind him. Now the question is, couldn’t it be possible for Bangladesh to experience anything similar?
Imran Khan was undoubtedly a popular leader with a distinct image, and the general public trusted him. That is why people demonstrated in the streets for him. On the other side, Nawaz Sharif, who is infamous for his corruption, lived comfortably in London. According to the Supreme Court verdict, he was condemned to life in jail and accused of being ineligible for life in the country's politics. However, lusting after power, he returned home at the mercy of the military. But the reality that people dislike these crooked individuals was shown once again during the elections. This is a warning message to Bangladeshi political elites who are accused of rampant corruption, theft, militancy support, and terrorist actions while living luxuriously overseas and hoping to climb to power via unseen powers.
It is undeniable that this election in Pakistan has sparked a new thought in the minds of Bangladeshi politicians and intellectuals. One thing is clear from the election: if the people support the party, no one can stop it. People always support a popular and trustworthy leader. However, if he is rife with corruption, the populace will respond negatively by casting ballots. Despite Imran's party's eventual failure to win power in Pakistan, it won the hearts of millions of Pakistanis and will be remembered for outstanding leadership, courage, and determination. Politicians in Bangladesh can learn from this great political saga.
The writer is Assistant Professor and Chairman, Department of Criminology and Police Science, University of Chittagong.
Messenger/Disha
