DAWN Editorials - 30th May 2025

[zarnishhayat]

Muddled strategy

PTI’s incarcerated leader Imran Khan has again hinted at launching a countrywide protest campaign. In a message shared via his official X account, the former prime minister has asked his supporters to prepare for the movement, but didn’t clearly specify the objectives and timeframe for the planned protest.

“All of you should be prepared — a nationwide protest movement will be launched soon,” he said. The question, however, remains whether the next PTI movement would bring about results different from his previous calls. The bigger question pertains to the PTI’s ability to mobilise popular support, particularly in the ‘battleground’ province of Punjab, into sustained protests to achieve whatever goal its leader has in mind.

Apparently, not everyone in the party is hopeful of the desired outcome. After all, the PTI remains a house deeply divided, with no one seemingly in charge of party policy inside or outside parliament, with Mr Khan incarcerated and his legal battles showing no signs of ending soon.

The call comes amid conflicting hints being dropped by different PTI leaders and Mr Khan’s sisters. For example, PTI president Gohar Ali Khan had recently “expressed the hope that Imran Khan will be released before Eidul Azha”. On the other hand, Aleema Khan said “such rumours were being spread to cool down the nation aimed at keeping them from holding protests.”


In the same breath, she also offered (the establishment) “give-and-take” for the release of her brother but didn’t elaborate. On Thursday, PTI’s Ali Zafar told the media after meeting the jailed party leader that Mr Khan is reportedly ready for talks with the establishment in the larger interest of the country.

The lack of clarity as to what the country’s arguably largest party is looking for and what strategy it intends to adopt to achieve its objectives is concerning. It seems that Imran Khan and other party leaders may be prepared for a ‘compromise deal’ with the powers that be, but are still not ready to talk to the other political parties, especially the ones in power.

This would suggest that the party’s dispute with the institutions is not ideological and that the PTI is looking for another shot at power after mending fences with the right quarters.

The sad fact is that throughout Pakistan’s political history, nearly all major parties have, at different times, struck deals with unelected forces in order to make it to the corridors of power or bring down governments.

This may not reflect a very enviable history for Pakistan’s political parties, but all is not lost. Politicians from both sides need to realise that at stake is not just their own democratic credentials but also the nation’s shared vision of a democratic future for this hapless country.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025


Bangladesh tumult

REVOLUTIONS and upheavals are messy things, and unless proponents of the new order have a solid plan to replace the old order, transitions can be chaotic and bloody. For those leading Bangladesh in a new direction after the fall of Sheikh Hasina Wajed’s autocratic government last year, the challenges are considerable, and cracks are emerging within the coalition of parties that helped bring down the Awami League regime. Unless these issues are addressed and a clear roadmap for elections is announced within a reasonable span of time, the trust deficit between different parties may grow wider, adding to the instability that has been rocking Bangladesh. There were rumours a few days ago that Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate who is heading Bangladesh’s interim set-up, was considering resigning. These were later scotched, but media reports say Dr Yunus had considered leaving his post because of pressure on him from various factions. It has also been reported that there has been increased civil-military friction. Perhaps at the heart of the instability is the debate over the election date. Dr Yunus has said polls will be held between December and July 2026, while the BNP, one of the country’s largest parties, insists elections should be held by the end of this year. The powerful army also reportedly wants polls by December. Local media quoted the army chief as saying “we must return to barracks after elections”.

Indeed it is a tough call for the interim set-up. While Dr Yunus’s calls for reform before polls are understandable, long-term changes in the country’s administrative and political structure should ideally be left to an elected government. And while demands for justice for those who were allegedly tortured or killed by the previous government are also justified, the legal process should continue in tandem with preparations for polls. All of Bangladesh’s political parties and factions should, therefore, jointly prepare a roadmap acceptable to all to ensure a free and fair democratic transition. Announcing a tentative election date would remove much of the uncertainty, and turn the focus of political parties towards the campaign trail. The interim rulers should also reconsider the ban on the Awami League’s participation in the polls, as the election will not be fully democratic without the presence of one of the country’s major political parties. Let the people of Bangladesh decide.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025


Online disgrace

WE live in times of instant humiliation. In a toxic online setting, civility is a tall order and anyone is fair game. The threat of being disgraced lurks with impunity. A cyber harassment horror has been unfolding since last month in Kasur where 55 men and women were arrested from what the police say was an ‘illegal’ rave party. Their videos were recorded in a local police station and published on social media. Among them was a female influencer who will now grapple with lifelong shame because her video went viral. Although five officers have been suspended for the odious crime, the scandal should jolt the administration, forcing a rapid review of internet security protocols.

The digital sphere is, shockingly, being used by some in law enforcement to not only exploit young and underprivileged people, but also to exhibit their own ‘achievements’ for public adulation. A violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which stipulates that an individual’s dignity is “inviolable”, the abhorrent practice is rampant in Punjab thanks to the absence of a vigilant online reporting system. The danger then is that perpetrators, despite clear guidelines — the Punjab police rules forbid officers from recording videos that reveal the identity of suspects and under-trials — will continue their hunt unless the government commits to investing in cybersecurity with a cyber-patrolling squad, training for appropriate and prompt response and above all, weeding out the rogue elements in the police force. While an ever-evolving web is a challenge to guard, shaming people online can turn into a life sentence as the presence of such videos haunts victims even after acquittals. The government must shift its focus from internet surveillance to ensuring morally upright LEAs, effective implementation of laws and justice for victims of cybercrime. Unchecked repulsive behaviour triggers remorse, anger and a bullying-victim cycle, thereby producing more offenders. The lack of accountability means that common citizens will continue to suffer.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2025