By Amir Zia
Monday, Sept 8, 2014
The News
Sharif’s recent outings at the National Assembly failed to boost the morale of his supporters. This task was done by the opposition lawmakers, who extended unconditional support to democracy
It seems that the much-trumpeted revolution of Allama Tahirul Qadri will have to wait for now and the freedom sought by Imran Khan will also have to remain on the hold because the ‘umpire’ ignored their initial bout of appeals. But let’s admit that this ‘odd couple’ succeeded in involving the nation in debate and discussion the likes of which has never been witnessed before – thanks to the 24/7 live television coverage and a vibrant social media.
Oratory – good as well as bad – is at the centre stage. Be it the speeches outside parliament or on the floor of the house, they are attracting listeners. While veteran parliamentarians such as Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Mushahid Hussain Syed have yet again made their mark during the ongoing parliamentary debate, there are many who stand exposed because of the barrenness of their style, thought and content.
When it comes to the party chiefs, it is Qadri who steals the show. One may differ with his agenda and tactics, but let’s give him credit for keeping the PAT’s die-hard supporters as well as many ordinary Pakistanis spell-bound with his oratory. He has a vast treasure of words which he weaves and spins with grace and ease. He knows the intricacies of the art of public speaking – demonstrated through all the right pauses and well-timed stresses.
Hardly any of Pakistan’s top politicians today – from our grim-faced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the self-proclaimed premier-in-waiting Imran Khan to the wily and ever-beaming former president Asif Ali Zardari – can match Qadri when it comes to the effective use of words.
Oration – the heart and soul of politics – is indeed used by both heroes and villains of history to motivate and galvanise the people, to fight or commit injustices, stoke passions or frenzy and trigger just or unjust wars and revolutions. A well-knit tapestry of words makes people shed tears, get hope and confidence and leap into action. It is the magic of words that makes people feel patriotic, and sacrifice or take lives in the name of religion, ethnicity or nationalism.
Qadri is definitely not in the league of the mighty greats who changed the course of history. To his critics, he remains just another smooth-talking cleric, an alleged ‘confidence man’, holding his followers at his whim. But in our barren political landscape dotted mostly with mumbling politicians, Qadri is among the few best.
He is able to connect not just with religious-minded people, but also with many ‘not-so’ religious, ordinary Pakistanis. His passionate attacks on the extremist mindset and condemnation of religiously-motivated violence and terrorism are music to the ears of all those who stand against the misuse of the sacred name of Islam in politics or fanning sectarian and religious hatred. This is the kind of message one likes to hear from a cleric.
There are many other firebrand religious leaders who sway the hearts and minds of listeners, but their message is confined to the narrow set of their sectarian followers. Qadri seems to be trying to make a broader appeal and sell a dream which his critics find half-baked, impractical and a threat to the fragile democratic system.
If we believe Qadri’s critics, his ‘innocent followers’ are chasing a mirage. Yet, there is no denying the fact that his attacks on Pakistan’s dysfunctional democracy, rampant corruption, nepotism and the greed and indifference of our ruling elite towards the plight of the masses echo the sentiment of many Pakistanis. However, when he is seen with some of the very symbols of the political mafia he attacks one questions his choice and motives.
PTI chairman Imran Khan – also trying hard to stir the passions of his followers – is monotonous. The ‘entertainment value’ of his frequent addresses at the sit-in comes from the harsh language and below-the-belt remarks he makes against rivals, the media, judiciary and what not. It seems that the entire universe conspired to snatch the election victory from him.
His political message is vague, convoluted and floats around narrow ideas. It begins and ends with allegations – mostly about election rigging – rather than vision. The challenge of extremism and terrorism is conveniently ignored in his sit-in speeches, which fail to support or oppose the ongoing military operation.
Attempts to make a ‘new Pakistan’ along with scions of the old ruling elite, a handful of pseudo-intellectuals, apolitical former corporate gurus, socialites and fan-club members appear difficult to digest. His repetitive megalomaniac assertions that he remains a gift of God for this wretched nation has began to appear comical.
Yes, we all know by heart now that the Great Khan does not need to be in politics. He has all the fame and fortune and can cool his heels for the rest of his life on the basis of his past feats. He is spending nights in the container and dirtying hands in politics for people like you and me. But isn’t it time for some new lines? Imran’s frequent use of cricket terms as a metaphor in politics has also been overdone. It underlines his lack of imagination and simplistic mindset. Politics is no game of cricket – 20/20, One-Day, or Test. It is a subtle art and requires more brain than brawn. Toe-crushing Yorkers and piercing bouncers can do the trick in cricket, but not in the game of chess called politics. Imran needs to grow up.
Prime Minister Sharif has always been seen as an uninspiring speaker. Experience and three decades of being in politics failed to sharpen his public speaking skills. At his best, he can sell tangibles like the yellow cab scheme, metro buses, motorways and trade etc. But expecting a businessman like him to paint a grand dream or sell an idea is perhaps asking for too much.
Sharif’s recent outings at the National Assembly failed to boost the morale of his supporters. This task was done by the opposition lawmakers, who extended unconditional support to democracy. Sharif’s initial remarks in parliament that the government did not ask the army chief to mediate in the crisis shows how carelessness with words backfires and create a controversy where there should be room for none.
The snowball effect of Sharif’s statement led the military spokesman to tell the world that it was the government that had asked Army Chief Raheel Sharif to play a “facilitative role" to resolve the impasse. These contradictory statements led to some wild speculations, which the government later tried to gloss over saying that they meant more or less the same thing.
Some of our top politicians of yesteryears fared much better. How can one forget Benazir Bhutto’s last speech on the floor of parliament before she went into self-imposed exile in 1999? The house with Sharif’s two-third majority listened in pin-drop silence as she roared and thundered, shredding government policies into pieces. Yet, she was articulate, to-the-point and logical.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s fiery speeches are a classic in Pakistan’s populist oratory. It was not just slogans of bread, clothing and shelter he could sell with ease to the downtrodden but also the finer points of foreign policy to win support for his seemingly unpopular decisions like Pakistan’s recognition of Bangladesh. He changed the political culture of Pakistan the way he connected with the people through the power of words.
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, too, had his high points. His presentation of Pakistan’s case on Kashmir during his meeting with Indian journalists during the 2001 Agra Summit is just one example of his golden moments. He spoke with conviction, candour and passion while fighting the Kashmir case. I can recall some of the grim and sour Indian faces in the lobby of an Agra hotel where we listened to this interaction. The Indians blame Musharraf’s bluntness for the failure of those talks, but he made us all proud that day.
Getting back to the present, Pakistan’s political stage has all the room for a leader who can again mesmerise us and make us dream big as a nation. Can the present lot of politicians improve their game? So far the tidings remain bleak.
Monday, Sept 8, 2014
The News
Sharif’s recent outings at the National Assembly failed to boost the morale of his supporters. This task was done by the opposition lawmakers, who extended unconditional support to democracy
It seems that the much-trumpeted revolution of Allama Tahirul Qadri will have to wait for now and the freedom sought by Imran Khan will also have to remain on the hold because the ‘umpire’ ignored their initial bout of appeals. But let’s admit that this ‘odd couple’ succeeded in involving the nation in debate and discussion the likes of which has never been witnessed before – thanks to the 24/7 live television coverage and a vibrant social media.
Oratory – good as well as bad – is at the centre stage. Be it the speeches outside parliament or on the floor of the house, they are attracting listeners. While veteran parliamentarians such as Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Mushahid Hussain Syed have yet again made their mark during the ongoing parliamentary debate, there are many who stand exposed because of the barrenness of their style, thought and content.
When it comes to the party chiefs, it is Qadri who steals the show. One may differ with his agenda and tactics, but let’s give him credit for keeping the PAT’s die-hard supporters as well as many ordinary Pakistanis spell-bound with his oratory. He has a vast treasure of words which he weaves and spins with grace and ease. He knows the intricacies of the art of public speaking – demonstrated through all the right pauses and well-timed stresses.
Hardly any of Pakistan’s top politicians today – from our grim-faced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the self-proclaimed premier-in-waiting Imran Khan to the wily and ever-beaming former president Asif Ali Zardari – can match Qadri when it comes to the effective use of words.
Oration – the heart and soul of politics – is indeed used by both heroes and villains of history to motivate and galvanise the people, to fight or commit injustices, stoke passions or frenzy and trigger just or unjust wars and revolutions. A well-knit tapestry of words makes people shed tears, get hope and confidence and leap into action. It is the magic of words that makes people feel patriotic, and sacrifice or take lives in the name of religion, ethnicity or nationalism.
Qadri is definitely not in the league of the mighty greats who changed the course of history. To his critics, he remains just another smooth-talking cleric, an alleged ‘confidence man’, holding his followers at his whim. But in our barren political landscape dotted mostly with mumbling politicians, Qadri is among the few best.
He is able to connect not just with religious-minded people, but also with many ‘not-so’ religious, ordinary Pakistanis. His passionate attacks on the extremist mindset and condemnation of religiously-motivated violence and terrorism are music to the ears of all those who stand against the misuse of the sacred name of Islam in politics or fanning sectarian and religious hatred. This is the kind of message one likes to hear from a cleric.
There are many other firebrand religious leaders who sway the hearts and minds of listeners, but their message is confined to the narrow set of their sectarian followers. Qadri seems to be trying to make a broader appeal and sell a dream which his critics find half-baked, impractical and a threat to the fragile democratic system.
If we believe Qadri’s critics, his ‘innocent followers’ are chasing a mirage. Yet, there is no denying the fact that his attacks on Pakistan’s dysfunctional democracy, rampant corruption, nepotism and the greed and indifference of our ruling elite towards the plight of the masses echo the sentiment of many Pakistanis. However, when he is seen with some of the very symbols of the political mafia he attacks one questions his choice and motives.
PTI chairman Imran Khan – also trying hard to stir the passions of his followers – is monotonous. The ‘entertainment value’ of his frequent addresses at the sit-in comes from the harsh language and below-the-belt remarks he makes against rivals, the media, judiciary and what not. It seems that the entire universe conspired to snatch the election victory from him.
His political message is vague, convoluted and floats around narrow ideas. It begins and ends with allegations – mostly about election rigging – rather than vision. The challenge of extremism and terrorism is conveniently ignored in his sit-in speeches, which fail to support or oppose the ongoing military operation.
Attempts to make a ‘new Pakistan’ along with scions of the old ruling elite, a handful of pseudo-intellectuals, apolitical former corporate gurus, socialites and fan-club members appear difficult to digest. His repetitive megalomaniac assertions that he remains a gift of God for this wretched nation has began to appear comical.
Yes, we all know by heart now that the Great Khan does not need to be in politics. He has all the fame and fortune and can cool his heels for the rest of his life on the basis of his past feats. He is spending nights in the container and dirtying hands in politics for people like you and me. But isn’t it time for some new lines? Imran’s frequent use of cricket terms as a metaphor in politics has also been overdone. It underlines his lack of imagination and simplistic mindset. Politics is no game of cricket – 20/20, One-Day, or Test. It is a subtle art and requires more brain than brawn. Toe-crushing Yorkers and piercing bouncers can do the trick in cricket, but not in the game of chess called politics. Imran needs to grow up.
Prime Minister Sharif has always been seen as an uninspiring speaker. Experience and three decades of being in politics failed to sharpen his public speaking skills. At his best, he can sell tangibles like the yellow cab scheme, metro buses, motorways and trade etc. But expecting a businessman like him to paint a grand dream or sell an idea is perhaps asking for too much.
Sharif’s recent outings at the National Assembly failed to boost the morale of his supporters. This task was done by the opposition lawmakers, who extended unconditional support to democracy. Sharif’s initial remarks in parliament that the government did not ask the army chief to mediate in the crisis shows how carelessness with words backfires and create a controversy where there should be room for none.
The snowball effect of Sharif’s statement led the military spokesman to tell the world that it was the government that had asked Army Chief Raheel Sharif to play a “facilitative role" to resolve the impasse. These contradictory statements led to some wild speculations, which the government later tried to gloss over saying that they meant more or less the same thing.
Some of our top politicians of yesteryears fared much better. How can one forget Benazir Bhutto’s last speech on the floor of parliament before she went into self-imposed exile in 1999? The house with Sharif’s two-third majority listened in pin-drop silence as she roared and thundered, shredding government policies into pieces. Yet, she was articulate, to-the-point and logical.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s fiery speeches are a classic in Pakistan’s populist oratory. It was not just slogans of bread, clothing and shelter he could sell with ease to the downtrodden but also the finer points of foreign policy to win support for his seemingly unpopular decisions like Pakistan’s recognition of Bangladesh. He changed the political culture of Pakistan the way he connected with the people through the power of words.
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, too, had his high points. His presentation of Pakistan’s case on Kashmir during his meeting with Indian journalists during the 2001 Agra Summit is just one example of his golden moments. He spoke with conviction, candour and passion while fighting the Kashmir case. I can recall some of the grim and sour Indian faces in the lobby of an Agra hotel where we listened to this interaction. The Indians blame Musharraf’s bluntness for the failure of those talks, but he made us all proud that day.
Getting back to the present, Pakistan’s political stage has all the room for a leader who can again mesmerise us and make us dream big as a nation. Can the present lot of politicians improve their game? So far the tidings remain bleak.
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