When Pakistan goes to polls on 25 July, it will be the first time that two consecutively elected governments are handing over power, but political parties fear that the army is mounting a soft coup.
In a country where unemployment is at a historic high, the national anxiety isn’t about jobs — it’s about reach. Aspirations have shifted from employment to engagement, from careers to content.
There has never been a level playing field in Pakistan for the masses to participate in free and fair electoral process. Undoubtedly Dawn and similar media organizations have played an important role and providing the masses with ‘the public sphere’ where an informed discussion and decision making might take place. Those elements, which might disrupt this process may always be there and Pakistan is not an exception. However, labelling Mr. Khan as Ladla is unjust and unfair, particularly when you hear it from someone, whose own political background if closely scrutinized may not be that squeaky clean. Mr. Khan with all the shortcoming as a person and politician is not corrupt and has struggled for many years against corruption and nepotism. Whether he succeeds or not is dependent on many factors, as he is also relying on a society, where corruption, nepotism, and corrupt practices are accepted as a norm of daily life.
There has never been a level playing field in Pakistan for the masses to participate in free and fair electoral process. Undoubtedly Dawn and similar media organizations have played an important role and providing the masses with ‘the public sphere’ where an informed discussion and decision making might take place. Those elements, which might disrupt this process may always be there and Pakistan is not an exception. However, labelling Mr. Khan as Ladla is unjust and unfair, particularly when you hear it from someone, whose own political background if closely scrutinized may not be that squeaky clean. Mr. Khan with all the shortcoming as a person and politician is not corrupt and has struggled for many years against corruption and nepotism. Whether he succeeds or not is dependent on many factors, as he is also relying on a society, where corruption, nepotism, and corrupt practices are accepted as a norm of daily life.