(Abdul Basit Alvi)
Pakistan is facing rising political tensions as Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announce sit-ins, protests, and long marches amid a severe economic crisis. The rupee has depreciated sharply, petrol and diesel prices have reached unprecedented levels, electricity has become unaffordable for many families, and the prices of flour, sugar, cooking oil, and pulses have doubled in many areas, leaving ordinary people struggling to survive. Jamaat-e-Islami has a long political history, a dedicated cadre, and strong support in certain areas, and has raised concerns about an Islamic economic system, IMF influence, taxes on the poor, and the need for austerity among the wealthy elite. However, it has not provided a detailed plan explaining how it would reduce petrol prices or inflation while managing the national budget, foreign-exchange reserves, trade deficit, and international-lender agreements. It has also not presented a detailed economic paper, a step-by-step plan from its experts, or a shadow budget showing how it would balance the books, relying instead on slogans and speeches. Pakistanis understand that the economy is complex, that there are no easy solutions, that excessive money printing can cause hyperinflation, and that debts must be repaid. They want honesty, realistic plans, difficult but necessary decisions, and protection for vulnerable people. Protests may attract attention and votes, but they cannot directly lower flour prices, create jobs, or attract investment and may worsen inflation by disrupting transportation and preventing goods from reaching markets.
PTI faces a different but equally serious situation, as its founder and leader Imran Khan is involved in multiple legal cases, including allegations of corruption and charges related to the May 9 events, along with other charges. Khan maintains that the cases are politically motivated, that he is being unfairly targeted, and that the system is being used against him. Such claims should be addressed through the courts by presenting evidence, cross-examining witnesses, arguing before judges, appealing unfavorable decisions, and respecting legal verdicts. Instead, PTI has chosen rallies, marches, and street pressure to force concessions and disrupt daily life, turning a legal dispute into a political struggle. Political popularity or the ability to gather crowds does not establish legal innocence; courts decide cases according to evidence and law. If PTI believes Khan is innocent, it should rely on strong lawyers, evidence, facts, and legal arguments rather than attempting to intimidate judges, pressure the government, or bring the system to a standstill, because using street power to influence legal proceedings undermines judicial independence and the rule of law, ultimately leaving everyone, especially the weak, unprotected. Pakistanis are also exhausted by repeated protests, recalling PTI’s more than 100-day Islamabad sit-in in 2014 and its long marches in 2022 and subsequent periods. These movements did not reduce bread or electricity prices, create jobs, or improve hospitals and schools; instead, political instability contributed to economic damage, currency depreciation, uncertainty for investors, and a worsening international image. The cost extends beyond traffic disruptions and closed shops: every day of protest, sit-in, or long march is a day lost for development, education, and economic progress. With Pakistan already struggling to catch up, continued protests and parliamentary paralysis make it harder for the country to recover and move forward.
The demand for healthy politics is not a demand for the status quo. It is not a demand that people should stop criticizing the government. Criticism is essential in a democracy. The government must be held accountable. The opposition has a vital role to play. But that role must be played in the right way. The opposition should propose alternatives. It should point out the flaws in government policy. It should offer its own solutions. It should use the parliament as its platform. It should use the media to educate the public. It should use peaceful and legal means to make its voice heard. What it should not do is hold the country hostage. What it should not do is create chaos for the sake of creating chaos. What it should not do is put its own political interests above the national interest. The people of Pakistan want leaders who can think beyond the next election. They want leaders who can think about the next generation. They want leaders who understand that their actions have consequences. They want leaders who are willing to sit down and talk. They want leaders who are willing to compromise for the greater good. This is what mature politics looks like. This is what the people deserve.
Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI must understand that the public mood has changed. There was a time when people would come out in large numbers for every call of protest. There was a time when the promise of a long march would generate excitement. But that time is gone. The people are now tired. They are tired of the disruption. They are tired of the uncertainty. They are tired of being used as fuel for someone else’s political fire. They want peace. They want stability. They want a chance to live their lives without constant political upheaval. The parties that fail to understand this will pay a price. The parties that continue to pursue the politics of the street will find that the street is empty. The people will stay home. They will not come out. They will not support a movement that only brings them more pain. The silent majority of Pakistan is not silent because it has no opinion. It is silent because it has lost faith in the ability of the political class to solve its problems. It is silent because it is busy trying to survive. It is silent because it is waiting for a leader who will speak to its real concerns. It is waiting for a leader who will talk about jobs and prices and education and health. It is waiting for a leader who will offer a plan, not a protest.
The solution to Pakistan’s problems will not come from a sit-in. It will not come from a long march. It will not come from blocking roads or shutting down cities. The solution will come from hard work. It will come from serious policy making. It will come from a government that is willing to make tough decisions. It will come from an opposition that is willing to play a constructive role. It will come from a judiciary that is independent and impartial. It will come from a media that is responsible and informative. It will come from a civil society that is active and engaged. It will come from a people that are patient and determined. This is the only way forward. This is the only path to progress. The politics of disruption is a dead end. It leads nowhere. It solves nothing. It only creates more problems. Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI should abandon this path. They should return to the parliament. They should present their ideas. They should engage in dialogue. They should work with the government where possible and oppose it where necessary. But they should do so in a way that does not harm the country. They should do so in a way that does not hurt the common man. They should do so in a way that shows respect for the rule of law and the democratic process. The people of Pakistan are watching. They are waiting. They are hoping. It is time for the political leadership to listen. It is time for them to act responsibly. It is time for them to put Pakistan first.
