Pakistan

Beyond Politics: The Real Right to Rule

| A Better Muslim, Faith & Life, Insights, Politics, The Pakistan Dreamby

Political debates are pretty common in our country. Usually, they’re about “who is better for Pakistan.” Rarely do they focus on “what is better for Pakistan.” If we look at the manifestos of all political parties, military rulers, and even caretakers, we’ll find a few common themes: education, poverty alleviation, increasing exports, stronger defense, more jobs, and fighting corruption. But if we dig deeper into their hidden agendas, it all comes down to one question: “How do I come into power and how do I stay in power forever?”

My point is that none of these published or unpublished manifestos, really serve Pakistan because they fail to answer one crucial question: “Who has given us the right to rule?” This question matters because we are accountable to whoever gave us that right.

In the Quran, Allah says:
…Allah gives His kingship to whom He wills. (2:247)

This means that Allah gives us the right to rule, making the rulers accountable to Allah and Allah alone. Not to the establishment or judiciary. Not to the various mafias in real estate, agriculture, retail, or sugar. Not to the various superpowers or ‘brotherly’ Arab countries. Not even to the people of Pakistan. The rulers are accountable to Allah and Allah alone. And the reason that the right to rule is given by Allah, is to implement the laws that He has mentioned in the the Quran and Sunnah.

This important factor is not just ignored by our ruling elite but also by us. We too have been given a right to rule—a right to rule over our families, homes, and employees. And most importantly, a right to rule our own lives. We too are required to implement the laws of Allah in the domains that are given under our control.

The real change will come in our lives and our country when we accept this one important fact: Our lives, our children, our money, our fame, our rules, are all given by Allah and Allah alone. And they have been given to us for a reason, which is to implement the dos and don’ts as specified by Allah in the domains that we rule over. Have we done so? And if not, what right do we have to criticize someone who has not implemented them? What right do we have to criticize the rulers of our country? In Pakistan, implementing the laws of Islam is not difficult. In fact, they are quite easy and facilitative. If we still have not implemented these laws or agreed to implement them, then as far as I am concerned, we have no right to criticize anyone else, be it our neighbors, friends, or even our political elite. Everyone is busy disobeying Allah, and we are Everyone.

Why Must We Dream?

| A Better Muslim, Be Productive, Personal Growth, The Pakistan Dreamby

The dreams we have at night may be random and fleeting, but the dreams we have while awake are the ones that matter most. They are the embodiment of our deepest aspirations and desires, and they are what make us human giving us a sense of purpose and driving us forward, even when things get tough.

Dreams can be noble or vile. Noble dreams chase equality and brotherhood bringing people together. Vile dreams chase money and fame driving people away from each other. Noble dreams cause the progress and development of humanity. Vile dreams cause their destruction through wars and famine.

For many people, the dream is to make money. But they fail to realize that beyond a certain amount, money would stop providing any additional value to the quality of their life. That is why making money should never be the sole objective of our lives, rather, it should be treated as a tool that would help us to realize loftier and bigger dreams.

Humans have been given a mind to think and a heart to feel. Using both together can help us craft bigger and nobler dreams.

Dreams and their impact

Noble dreams have the power to unite people. Consider Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream which positively impacted the lives of countless Americans and continues to do so.

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood”

Martin Luther King Jr.

His dream centered on equality and brotherhood and not money or fame.

In our own history, Allama Iqbal presented a vision for the Muslims of the subcontinent.

I would like to see the Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province, Sind, and Baluchistan amalgamated into a single state. Self-government within the British Empire or without the British Empire, the formation of a consolidated North-West Indian Muslim state appears to be the final destiny of the Muslims, at least of North-West India

Allama Muhammad Iqbal

This dream, too, was not driven by financial gain or fame but rather by the aspiration to grant Muslims in the subcontinent the freedom to practice their religion and way of life without fear of persecution and hatred.

Dreams as tools to fight adversities.

Bigger dreams often come with greater challenges and hardships, yet they also give greater strength. The struggles of the black community in America, and the millions of lives lost during the partition of the subcontinent tell us that while the adversities were high, so was the willingness to sacrifice. When these communities compared the hardships required for the potential future, the sacrifices needed seemed inconsequential.

Nelson Mandela was given life imprisonment in 1964. During his trial he said

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Nelson Mandela

Dreams and their everlasting impact

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 and Allama Iqbal died in 1938, well before they could witness the realization of their dreams. Both these examples are proof that when one’s dream is driven by a purpose greater than personal wealth or fame, the dream stays alive long after their physical presence has departed.

Dreams give us a bigger purpose.

Dreams give purpose and meaning to our lives and stop us from being influenced by petty emotions.

Nelson Mandela’s remarkable journey serves as a clear example. After spending 27 years in prison, one might have anticipated a thirst for revenge upon his release. Yet he writes in his book ‘Long Walk to Freedom.’

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Mandela chose to forgive, recognizing that his dream of a democratic South Africa where everyone enjoyed equal rights transcended personal emotions of hatred or revenge. Four years later, South Africa witnessed its first multiracial elections, which wouldn’t have been possible if Mandela’s actions were driven by hatred or revenge.

Conclusion

We might not be Allama Iqbal or Nelson Mandela, but we too can envision a future that we want to see. Maybe our names would remain unknown, but deep inside we would be satisfied that we lived a life of greater significance and provided more than we took.

“We all dream while we sleep, it is about time that we have a dream that will not let us sleep.”

Dr. Abdul Bari

This blog borrows a lot from the lectures on Strategic Visions delivered by Mr. Suleiman Ahmar, which are freely available on YouTube.

Pakistan Politics – 2023/2024

| Local, Politicsby

Last year, I wrote some of my analysis on the political situation and what we can expect. You can read the blog here. I believe it’s time for another one.  

So here is where the situation stands. There are two major forces in Pakistan who are fighting for power. Nawaz Sharif and Establishment. All the others are just insignificant side actors.  

First, let us see what cards each party holds in their hands.  

Nawaz Sharif has key players planted in Bureaucracy, Military Leadership, Businessmen (especially retailers and real estate), Judiciary (all levels), Police, Election Commission, and above all media.   

Establishment cards are never public, but they look particularly weak at the moment. I don’t think they have the support of the Judiciary anymore. After their last U-Turn, their mouthpieces in the media are either dead, out of the country, or in prisons. This would make it difficult for them to build a narrative of their choice.

As per my analysis (not prediction) this is what is going to happen now.  

  1. NAB cases of Sharifs are reopened, but they would be cleared by the Supreme Court.
  2. Supreme Court will clear Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz’s jail sentences.
  3. Nawaz Sharf will arrive in Pakistan and start his campaign.
  4. In January, or even before, whenever Nawaz Sharif says, elections will happen.
  5. Elections will be managed through (a) Prepoll Management and (b) Election Day management. Included in the prepoll management is to keep PTI Leadership in jail preventing them from campaigning and distributing tickets or even fielding polling agents. New voters are already registered by the Election Commission, so whatever the numeric majority of PTI might be, will be covered by these new (mostly bogus) voters. Election Day management will be done by the Election Commission, polling staff (nominated by Bureaucracy), police, and interim governments.
  6. Nawaz Sharif sweeps elections and comes to power. His side of the media will start singing praises.
  7. After gaining a majority in Parliament and Senate, he brings in a President of his choice.

Once Nawaz Sharif comes to power then he will have the required majority in parliament, senate and eventually presidency. Adding to the cards that he already holds, this would mean that he will be holding all the major cards in his hand.  

And that is when Round 4 of Nawaz Sharif versus Establishment will start. Nawaz Sharif would want a major say in postings and transfers within the military and would do anything to bring the powerful military in line with this agenda. His ‘selected’ military leadership will try to help as much as possible, but I am not sure till how long they would be able to resist and desist and stifle institutional pressure.

This is my just my analysis based on the present situation. It is not a prediction or anything. I too will be sitting and watching of how much of it becomes true.