The Pakistani state must understand the demographics of dissent and stop trying to curb it

After 12 months of regime change, Pakistanis can look back to a year full of civil and political rights violations by the federal government, directed towards supporters of opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Throughout the year, the party’s supporters have tried to exercise their fundamental right to free expression and freedom of assembly by organising demonstrations and speaking up against the dismissal of Imran Khan and the absurd nature of hundreds of cases against him. In November last year, there was an assassination attempt against the PTI chairman but he has not been able to register so much as an FIR (First Information Report) against nominated persons, with the police.

Last month, PTI workers and supporters stood by Khan’s residence in Lahore in the face of police brutality, torture and violence. Police were caught on video beating protestors, shelling and blasting water cannons against demonstrators, despite the Constitution of Pakistan guaranteeing the right to peaceful assembly. According to the party, one worker died in police custody.

Later that week, a large number of police raided Khan’s house in his absence as he was on his way to appear in an Islamabad Court. His unarmed domestic staff and party workers were beaten and arrested in Lahore. And in Islamabad, a huge number of supporters faced tear gas shelling, baton charge and arrest. Khan himself marginally escaped a police mob attack at Islamabad court.

In a country with a checkered political history, and a terrible track record of political oppression, this is some of the worst political violence the country has ever seen. No check and balance currently exists to ensure that political workers who are needlessly arrested are treated with dignity as per their fundamental rights. 

It’s time for the state to re-orient and embrace the free world as envisaged by the founding father of this country.  

Iftikhar Durrani 

The law being put to action for political victimisation was promulgated in 1997-- the anti-terrorism law-- largely used during the US-led ‘war on terror.’ For one, it is clear that these anti terror laws must not be used against political workers. Unfortunately, the sedition law laid to rest by the Lahore high court was also used against Khan and his party leadership. Laws being used to terrorise political opponents stand obsolete with no scrutiny and accountability of the police nationwide. Recent human rights violations and the use of force by the state is a testament to the blind misuse of the law and the authority and power of law enforcement officials. This calls for reform. What of the reform of laws guiding law enforcement authorities, those who subject ordinary people to torture and misuse force without any accountability? 

The phenomenon of social media, instant sharing, worldwide messaging and virality means that no piece of information can be completely removed or hidden from public social media platforms any longer. Henry Kissinger in his 2014 "World Order" advises the United States to adjust to a new reality in the digital age. The Pakistani government also needs to understand the same- they cannot diffuse dissent anymore. It’s just not possible to keep state-sponsored human rights violations under wraps in today’s world.

In Pakistan, over 100 million people are connected to social media and candidly express their views on issues that concern them. This phenomenon is beyond the control or management of any authority. The class divide between the powerful elite and affluent classes and the lowest segments of society has increased exponentially because of the economic condition and policies of the current regime. Over four million people lost their jobs last year and another four million are further expected to lose them since the country’s GDP growth rate has contracted from 6% to 0.4 % according to the World Bank.

Managing dissent in today’s world is impossible. Even the mainstream media which is managed by a “single editor concept” is struggling. And it’s clear what the public wants: free, fair and transparent elections. This is not an extra-constitutional demand.

Give them elections, instead of attempting to curb dissent in the world’s fifth largest country in terms of population size, where 60% of your people are young and a staggering 40% are below 30 years of age with the internet and social media connectivity on their fingertips day and night. Understand the demographics of this dissent. It’s time for the state to re-orient and embrace the free world as envisaged by the founding father of this country.  

- Writer is a PHD in Government and Public Policy and can be reached at @DuraniIftikhar