December 3, 2024
Islamabad – Renewed discussions about banning one of the country’s largest political parties only shows the poverty of democratic thinking among Pakistan’s power elite.
After the latest protest against PTI’s forcible expulsion from the federal capital, some entities have once again described the party as a “terrorist organization” and sought its ban. Thankfully, the PPP, JUI, and others opposed the measure, calling it a bad idea.
Others, perhaps most surprisingly the ANP, have made no secret of the fact that they want to see PTI removed from the picture entirely. However, the political parties who want to ban PTI do not seem to realize that they are betraying the very “democratic” credentials they claim to have.
The latest round of condemnation began with the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday passing a resolution calling for the party to be banned as the opposition went on strike following recent protests. Even by the province’s rough democratic standards, that marks a new low. A similar resolution was proposed in the Punjab Assembly, but it failed to pass as quickly as the Balochistan Assembly, seemingly due to the PPP’s opposition to the move.
Meanwhile, the federal cabinet considered imposing governor-general rule in Khyber, but sense once again seemed to have prevailed. However, most disappointing for students of Pakistan’s political history is that Khan Abdul Wali Khan’s successor and current chairman of the Awami National Party, Amar Wali, has also joined in seeking a ban Pakistan ranks.
Of Pakistan’s mainstream political parties, only two have been officially banned. One of these was the National Awami Party, led by Wali Khan, which was banned in 1975 but later resurrected as the ANP. The other was the Awami League, whose banning had disastrous consequences leading to the secession of East Pakistan. After usurping power, dictator General Ziaul-ul-Haq also tried to outlaw the PPP and splintered factions within it, but Bhutto’s party also persisted.
This history shows that prohibition simply does not work. All parties make mistakes, and states and citizens sometimes clash violently. But that cannot be used to justify denying the public their constitutional right to organize under any banner they wish.
Rather than resorting to such arbitrary calls, the parties must commit themselves to making a positive contribution to the country’s political culture by working to bridge the differences that exist between them and focusing on resolving issues through negotiation. This is the only viable way forward for Pakistan.
