It is the responsibility of political leaders to set an example of ethics, propriety, and manners. Our political leaders bear the responsibility. If they continue to use violent language in their jalsas and tweets and encourage their supporters to do whatever they want to do with their opponents, the consequences will be extremely dangerous for our society and the future of politics.
What happened on the streets of London on Sunday with Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb being accosted by PTI supporters cannot be described as mere heckling or harassment. Being pursued by a horde of abusive hecklers would make even the toughest politician nervous. Not so for Marriyum Aurangzeb, who maintained his dignity and composure in the face of an assault. This is not the first time Marriyum has been targeted by PTI trolls in this manner. Marriyum Aurangzeb and others were attacked at Masjid-e-Nabavi earlier this year during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia. This is not limited to party supporters; we have seen PTI leaders, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, repeatedly use abusive language against former prime ministers, as well as judges and bureaucrats. This decline in discourse is concerning and should be a source of concern for anyone concerned about the future of democracy in Pakistan.
While Marriyum Aurangzeb has shown a lot of grace under pressure, there has to be some accountability for such behavior at some point. Over the last three years, we’ve seen the PTI engage in online harassment of journalists who were critical of the PTI and political opponents with impunity. The PTI’s use of political polarization to justify violence and harassment in public is extremely dangerous. Essentially, political leaders are responsible for training their followers in political discourse. There was a time when political party leaders would actively groom their members and supporters. There were study circles where the fundamentals of politics were discussed while maintaining decorum for the sake of democracy and healthy political activity. Tolerance among political parties and their supporters in the country and abroad has been steadily declining. As a result, numerous incidents have occurred in which a mob gathers and targets political leaders in public places; this has occurred at airports, restaurants, parks, and even across the seas, targeting any Pakistani leader traveling abroad or simply enjoying a stroll or a cup of coffee.
Imran Khan and his PTI have used allegations of corruption and, more recently, charges of a “foreign conspiracy” for over two decades, and it appears that he and his supporters will not change tack unless appropriate action is taken. Harassment is a crime that can be prosecuted in court. Furthermore, this behavior is unacceptable in European countries. It is past time for all of our political leaders, particularly those affiliated with the PTI, to learn a thing or two about political discourse. If this madness is not stopped, it will continue indefinitely. It is the responsibility of political leaders to set an example of ethics, propriety, and manners. Our political leaders bear the responsibility. If they continue to use violent language in their jalsas and tweets and encourage their supporters to do whatever they want to do with their opponents, the consequences will be extremely dangerous for our society and the future of politics.
