Drifting away from democratic norms

Sobriety, tolerance and not challenging writ of the state used to be the hallmark the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which they had demonstrated in the past by not allowing the party workers to take law into their hands. This healthy norm of democracy was adhered to at the time execution of the party founder and popular political leader of international stature Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Again on the occasion of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto party leadership urged restra9in to workers notwithstanding the wave of lawlessness in Sindh which was the work of anti-social elements. At that critical juncture of overwhelming grief and outrageous emotions among the PPP workers the new PPP Chairman Asif Zardari made the statement of Pakistan Kapey.

As drastic departure from earlier display of observing democratic traditions a PPP Senator is reported to have incited party workers to violence and challenge the writ of the state when Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appeared before NAB investigation team in Islamabad on Wednesday in connection with the mega money laundering probe. The emotionally charged party workers pelted stones, injuring six policemen. It is pertinent to mention that former President Asif Zardari once, while responding to a question of a media person after hearing of Banking Court in Karachi, admitted that businessmen open fake bank accounts for certain transactions.

Rule of law, transparency and accountability are the basic fundamentals of true democracy and there can be no different sets of laws for the investigation and trial of the citizens of the country. Rule of law is equally applicable to common man and political elite. It is very unfortunate that Oxford University graduate young PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in his speech after appearance before NAB investigation team repeated his very irrational stance of accusing certain federal ministers of having links with banned outfits and described the recent administrative measures of the government against proscribed organisations tantamount to providing them protection. This sort of political angling may undo the PTI government hectic diplomatic efforts to counter the Indian narrative against Pakistan and restore its soft image in the international community. One may remind to the PPP Chairman about the photograph of party stalwart and veteran parliamentarian Syed Khurshid Shah taken with the head of religious party to which Lej is believed to be affiliated. The photo went viral on social media and is available in the archives of private electronic media. What does it signify? It is worth appreciation that some senior PPP leaders like Barrister Iatizaz Ahsan and Raza Rabbani have distanced themselves from the undemocratic tactics of PPP Co-chairperson Asif Zardari which were manifested demonstrated in the shape violence of party workers perpetrated on personnel of police and other lawn enforcing agencies.