political de ja vu

The other day I was listening to a political program and it made me wonder; how easy it is to change the thinking and make us follow a trend webbed so cleverly around us that we fall in the same trap again and again. Before I give you my views or thoughts I would , I want to clarify that I don’t follow any political party as I think that selecting bad from worse is not a choice but a “majboori” which in my small opinion is something I would rather pass. I know some of you would say that if I don’t vote I should not say anything but then again I personally cant hero worship people without finding faults with them and their thinking. I mean it is some kind of obligation in the minds of most of our people that if we agree or follow a political group, we have to blindly agree and follow them and even if somebody criticizes them, we should turn hostile. So please before reading what I have to say, keep your anger aside and think.I just met a friend of mine who has recently found that Salvation is by following PTI. I am not against Imran Khan, actually I am a fan of his cricket and when he married Jamima and people called him names, I argued with them that he is not doing anything wrong. But when it comes to politics I have some reservations, not because of his personality but because of how he started and where he is headed. I mean it is not hidden that PTI was started by him with the support of retd gen. In fact his first manifesto was written by a retd gen who was information sectary in Zia’s regime. He is friends with a lot retd generals and their sons and plays ‘shikar’ with them and stay at their farm houses and they support him. Even Pervez Musharraf sent him puppies through a friend. So his connection with the “agencies” as they call them is not hidden and cannot be hidden. But what I don’t agree with is that he criticizes them so passionately. But he is not the only one who has gone through the same path and we have seen the result before in history as well. Let’s turn back time and see that similar leaders have emerged and followed the same path and got the same response and unfortunately the end was similar too. I truly hope and wish from the bottom of my heart that this time the end is different and positive. One great politician of the past who stirred same emotions and love in the people specially the students and youngsters and even the critics of that time is a name still loved by people and still is being cashed in politics as a savior, I think you all have guessed that the name is of none other than Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He was introduced by his mentor Ayub khan who was a general; he even served in his regime as well. When Bhutto sahib gained popularity and response similar to Imran he left the mentor and started one of the biggest parties of our country. The rest is known by all and as they say is history. He had the same ardent follow ship by so many just like the millions of people following Imran. Another important and great politician who has enjoyed an equal amount of love from people and still does is Nawaz Sharif. He too was a protégé of gen. Zia, served in his regime and then flourished. His career is still going on and we have witnessed his positive and negative policies. Another huge similarity that we should not turn a blind eye to is that all of these used and are still using the strength of the population that can turn the nation and when the damage is done it is too late to fix it. Yes that strength is the youth, the students, and the future of any nation. All of our political leaders without any exception urge the students to play their role, come on the streets shed blood. And this strength has given these leaders immortality, made them emerge as such hugely popular and strong leader that you can’t imagine. I once read that some students welcomed Quaid-e-azam Mohd. Ali Jinnah at a station and offered their support, services and blood. And the Quaid said that if you want to serve their nation, concentrate on your studies. But our leaders want blood wants students out on roads and ironically people call them the Quaid. Any ways I think that if you want to follow any of the options that are available please don’t do that blindly. Please criticize them when necessary, please object when they are deviating from their manifesto, please don’t make them as Sufis or dervish to be followed without question or objection. I want to request the same form the media personalities, the anchors and the critics as a huge responsibility lies with them as well. They should realize that whomever they promote or agree with puts a huge impact and influence on people. They set trends and we follow and like all trend setters they have a big responsibility on their shoulders. As the saying goes ‘with great power comes greater responsibility’. So you see, it is dejavu and this time my heart beats faster and prays harder that God please bless us with a different ending.