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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Are People really losing trust in state institutions?

News Analysis |

Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), has yet again criticized Pakistani politicians of being corrupt and dishonest.  Khan is in London these days for a medical checkup. He also spoke with the members of the British Parliament. He also said in a lighter mood that he will leave the corrupt politicians in a boxing ring with boxer Amir Khan to teach them a lesson.

Read more: Rivalry between PML-N and PTI

Khan focused on the present government in Pakistan and stated that a government becomes pointless when its own people lose trust in state institutions.

Pakistan is facing a challenge of governance these days where the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is making visits to hospitals, colleges and jails in order to ensure provision of basic human rights to every citizen. The government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) now headed by Shahbaz Sharif is under severe criticism at home.

The CJP has ordered to resign the Vice Chancellors of three Public sector universities in Punjab and directed the authorities to appoint permanent VCs as soon as possible. CJP also observed that there is ‘a state of education in the province’. He also took up the matter of clean water in the province, salaries of lady health workers and transfer of a lady officer in Punjab. He displayed sheer displeasure over the performance of Shahbaz Sharif, who has been the Chief Minister of the province for almost last 10 years.

Read more: PPP and PTI furious over PML-N’s controversial delimitation recommendations

CJP praises KPK Government:

CJP Nisar has, however, praised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for delivering better services to the people of KPK. CJP ordered that all security protocol granted to unauthorized persons in all provinces be withdrawn.

IG Mehsud submitted his report in court today, telling Justice Nisar that security protocol of 1,769 unauthorized people has already been withdrawn on court’s orders.

You have done excellent work. Thank you.

-CJP commending the IG 

The chief justice also said that he is content with Chief Secretary Azam Khan’s conduct. “Chief Secretary, you have also done good work,” he further said. Imran Khan was happy to learn about the praise of CJP for KPK government. “I am very happy that Justice Nisar praised the performance of the KP government,” Khan said in London.

People losing trust in state institutions?

Imran Khan has categorically stated that the people of Pakistan are losing trust in state institutions. He was referring to the political behavior of citizens in Pakistan where people do not pay tax and feel reluctant to go to police stations and courts. It is widely held perception in Pakistan that the state is only to serve the interests of the powerful. Indiscriminate application of law further confirms it. Bureaucrats like Ahad Cheema who work for their political masters are protected by people like Punjab’s Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.  Such state of affairs in the presence of vibrant electronic, print and powerful social media turns the bad situation into a worst one.

Read more: Has PTI and PML-N defamed politics?

Rallies of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) do reflect the failure of the state in understanding and addressing the grievances of people. For example, people who firmly believe in the finality of prophet-hood of Prophet Muhammad P.B.H were outraged when the government tried to amend the law. Moreover, young Pashtun leadership rallies against the failure of both military and civilian leadership in addressing their grievances in time.

Furthermore, dismissal of Nawaz Sharif in Panamagate case over the alleged corruption charges and observations of the superior court in the same case about the then-prime minster greatly disappointed the whole nation. It also damaged the image of civilian leadership in Pakistan. Imran Khan is, therefore, right in pointing out that people are losing trust institutions and it makes a government pointless.