To those who seldom complain about the change that comes in pieces, Long March is an answer. In current days of clamour and uncertainty, people inquire about the post August 14th scenarios. I do not know the answer. We do not know the outcomes. However, I hear a voice that is now being amplified into the shape of a movement, which stands against the electoral monopoly. I see passion climbing up the mountains of Azadi March. The zeal that is oozing out of blood of masses is an indicator of their desperation.
In the past, promises upon promises were broken; crises upon crises were imposed — energy crises, economic crisis and religious crisis. People living hands to mouth now gradually see through the delusion that was their votes in election 2013. The poor man eats the dust of Metro and sleeps in the light of laptops. What’s next? You wait another five years and endure such a bad situation, keep churning out the trash of allegations, spiting the seeds of vengeance and shake hands in the end in the name of greater democracy?
During the past few years, our political fashion has changed. People living in shackles of two giants, ultimately found a new window of hope – a hope that is now perched atop the roof of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPk). Aside from traditional political practicality, a newly emerged and triumphant party in KPk gives people a new perspective to think about. This party is not a dealer of Metro, bullet train and laptop schemes. It rather believes in some pragmatic changes in the province. From depoliticizing the police to transparency in accountability institutions, and from educational reforms to small dams projects, this party is making things evolve rather than revolve.
After waiting for 14 long months, now the rules have been changed. One party has decided not to make settlements with election riggers. One party has decided to play the wild card by exposing its own rule to instability. Can we call it genuine opposition to any government? Can we assume a particular party devoid of avarice? To a significant extent, I say yes. In this land of pure, you can purchase anything and everything. People realize now the weight and worth of their votes; and they understand the dire need of transparent election commission. One man, so audacious, is giving plebeians his visionary eyes to witness the new dimensions of politics.
To bring about a productive and positive change, while striving amidst political thugs, you have to have a lot of charisma. The required charisma is espoused by Imran Khan. I have many differences with Imran Khan but concurrently I appreciate him pouring his life’s blood into trying to rectify election commission of Pakistan. His sagacious mind has diagnosed the cause of poor governance in Pakistan. A biased electoral system would not be of any benefit to people of Pakistan. Government’s perpetual reluctance towards opening of four constituencies is a hallmark of its disarray and the mess it cooked up in past two years. I do not judge Imran Khan by 1992 World Cup, Shaukat Khanum or Namal University; I evaluate him by his aim, dream and vision. He thinks so loud; he dream so high. And hope is but the dream of those who are awake. I see the shadow of Quaid-e-Azam in him. The substance makes him different from others is his untiring efforts. It seems like he is unaware of the words, “I can’t”.
People do not judge by what you believe in, rather people judge by why you believe in something. People support Imran Khan for what he believes in. An autonomous and transparent election commission is indispensable for an enlightened Pakistan. I am convinced that if people continue their struggle from 14th August onwards, with faith in what their leader believes in, that certainly will be a day of salvation for us. Our green flag is an emblem of freedom. It is the color of rebirth and renewal. Now is the time for rebirth of Election Commission of Pakistan. Let us fly the green flag high. Let us change the game. Let us march.
