Setbacks to Democracy

Politics in Pakistan is the unwanted gift that just keeps giving, the latest being the arrests of PTI lawmakers from outside the Parliament House on Monday night. Apparently detained for violating the newly introduced Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, the arrests rightly provoked outrage across political lines. Regardless of political affinity, arresting elected representatives from the steps of parliament is not just an unfortunate spectacle but a serious assault on the optics of democratic governance. The image of lawmakers being handcuffed outside the institution meant to represent the will of the people sends a disturbing message about the state of democracy in Pakistan. When political debate, dissent, and even public assembly are met with arrests instead of dialogue, we know that democratic principles are in danger.

The optics of these arrests, however, are just one piece of the broader puzzle. Pakistan is inching towards a breakdown in any kind of political reconciliation, exacerbated by inflammatory rhetoric and increasing polarization. The Sunday (September 8) rally, in particular, saw PTI leaders, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur, engage in speeches that were not only incendiary but laced with misogyny and veiled threats of violence. Such behaviour not only undermines the cause of political discourse but also contributes to a toxic environment where dialogue between opposing political forces becomes nearly impossible. What is worse is that this has reportedly been condoned by the party chief himself who has apparently said anyone in his party taking issue with Gandapur’s words is a coward. The PTI’s insistence on refusing dialogue, especially with political opponents, in favour of courting the establishment, is pushing the country further towards a precipice. By doing this, the party is not just isolating itself but also playing into the very hybrid system it claims to want to dismantle. There is no sustainable political solution that can be built on misogynist speeches alone.

Yet, while the PTI must rethink its strategy, the government’s response to this escalating confrontation has also been less than ideal. Arresting lawmakers as they leave the Parliament House does nothing to quell tensions but only deepens grievances and hardens opposition resolve. The public assembly bill under which these arrests were made may be well within the scope of the law, but its enforcement smacks of an attempt to silence dissent. Using legal tools to stifle opposition, particularly through highly visible and dramatic arrests of lawmakers, will only further fuel public cynicism and is a tactic reminiscent of our draconian political history. The current path all stakeholders are on is a recipe for further instability. Political arrests, aggressive rhetoric, and the absence of genuine dialogue will only make things worse. If the government wants to de-escalate, it must lead by example and stop using detention as a form of political leverage. The PTI, for its part, must also take stock of its incendiary approach. There are no winners in the current standoff and what Pakistan really needs right now is not more polarization, but a return to reasoned political discourse. On the one end, the PTI needs to tone down its rhetoric, engage in constructive dialogue with other political entities, and stop relying on threats of confrontation. On the other, the government must resist the urge to escalate tensions through heavy-handed tactics, and understand that arresting lawmakers outside the halls of parliament is a deeply damaging spectacle. Can all sides take a step back, calm down, and learn to behave like adults? They owe this to the people in whose name they are politicking.