Awaam Pakistan party and its political future

‘Awaam Pakistan’ emerged in the political spectrum of Pakistan, generating a basic question about its future. PML-N decedents former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, and former finance minister Miftah Ismail announced the party as the PPP’s departed leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar is also the part of this project. On Friday, when this party came on the surface through a social media platform post, instead through a formal press conference, the analysts were found busy analyzing this venture with different perspectives like its relevance to the existing circumstances, the agenda and manifesto of this party and its possible future. The target vote and the implementation of this party’s agenda and its leaders were also discussed. This way announcement besides being historic highlighted it to be a social media user specific political party. Importantly, a handsome portion of the Pakistani population particularly the impoverished community is familiar with social media technology, or it remains unaffordable for them. The post contained a slogan “Kab Tak Chalay Gaa (for how long will it persist) that is viewed as a surprising factor. Do the political leaders ask such question from the target community who are already asking this question?The political leaders or a political parties give a solution that how this “Kab Tak Chalay Gay” will get to an end. This slogan is repetition of a generally asked question and off course requires an answer to from politicians. All the three founders of this party belong to the well-off families whom they have criticized a lot. If wealthy leaders to them have failed in engaging the public, then how these founders will do is surprising.Pakistanis saw Sheikh Rasheed, Justice (Retd) Wajeh, Justice (Retd) Iftikhar Chaudhry, Doctor Abdul Qadir and many others forming political parties, but none of them ended up with some fame or have marked some revolutionary acceptance among the public. To what extent the PMLQ and PMLZ remained popular is also known to all including the announcers of the new party. Forming a political party is not that bad, and in fact is superb, but its relevance to the circumstances is much important to them. The popularity of political party excluding the major ones can be assessed from their vote bank and reforms. When parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, despite having a clear cut agenda, ideology, following, systems and resources, could never come into power then what expectations this “Awaam Pakistan” has from the public? The All-India Muslim League was established in 1906, and despite having an ideology and constituency remained unsuccessful till 1937. The Pakistan People’s Party is an exception because this party had Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as its leader, and for this party there was only one competitor when it was established. The PPP flourished just in a period of about four years because it offered something new to the people. It came up with a reform agenda that was largely accepted among the public. Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) took at least 20 years till it came into power. How the PTI came into power is known to all. Khan was a new face but the leaders of this new entity are not. The emergence of MQM and its popularity in whole of Pakistan is also known to everyone. The political parties require much time, space, energy, resources, and different and powerful agendas, and a target community before they come to the limelight. In the existing circumstance and political affiliations of the public, it looks like it may not have enough space even by the next 30 years, but if doesn’t adopt some shortcut which a political party on record has adopted despite having popularity and new constituency. If not 30 thirty than at least 20 years are required with all capabilities and qualifications of a political party to get into the limelight. How old will be then the founders of Awaam Pakistan? The formation of this party indicates that possibly its leaders didn’t have more space in their previous parties. If here is no more place or one is not ready to retrieve than forming a separate party makes sense. The motivation for forming this party was the need to “radically restructure our governance,” Miftah Ismail said earlier adding “We are fast reaching the point of no return — and it is imperative we take a hard look at our ineffective governance that has failed our people.” He thought Pakistan’s political leaders other tan of his party as “out-of-touch and short-sighted” with regard to Pakistan’s future. “I am sorry to say they lack both the courage and the competence to change the course of this country,” he said.Anyhow, the time will tell that what happens to this party even but hopes should remain alive. Hopefully it will also come up with some expressive and fascinating agenda for the public which this party believes is not yet available. How Awaam Pakistan creates its space captures vote bank will is challenge and is awaited. (By Rana Kashif)