Even after over 41,000 martyrs in Palestine, and more than 500 Muslim deaths in Israeli attacks on Lebanon within two days, Muslim countries remain silent. Their conscience is not stirred by the martyrdom of their fellow Muslims because their personal interests are tied to the enemies of Islam. As for their principles, it’s better not to even discuss them.
In the United States, a Muslim mayor has announced his support for former President Trump in the presidential election. Trump’s animosity toward Muslims is well-known. He has stated that if he is not re-elected, Israel will be destroyed—the same Israel that, with U.S. support, has been bombing and committing terrorism for 11 months, breaking all global records. With a population of just 9 million, Israel, supported by America, has embarked on a campaign to destroy 1.5 billion Muslims in 53 Muslim-majority countries, under the guise of following its own principles. While non-Muslims are protesting these atrocities, self-proclaimed Muslims are unwilling to abandon their personal interests.
On a global scale, Muslims have abandoned their principles and conscience, and Pakistan’s politics are no different. This country, home to 240 million Muslims, is economically weakened, but its political parties, rulers, and politicians show no concern. The leaders, begging for aid and loans from friendly nations, claim they are risking their political careers to save the country. Their argument is that if the country survives, politics will too; but if, God forbid, something happens to the nation, where will they go, and how will they continue their politics? The politics here lack both conscience and principles, and not only politicians but journalists, anchors, bureaucrats, and even the judiciary have fallen prey to political manipulation.
The internal divisions have deepened to an alarming extent. In their pursuit of negative politics, they are ignoring the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for years in the fight against terrorism. Not even judges who protect the constitution or a sincere parliament are safe from being targeted for personal interests. The current government is struggling, unlike the 2018 government. The country is heavily in debt, the people are burdened with inflation, and the nation is surrounded by internal and external enemies. Our brotherly Muslim nation, to whom we gave refuge to millions of their refugees, is now sponsoring terrorism within our borders through its supporters.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the country’s third-largest province, has been governed by the PTI for 11 years, and Balochistan, the fourth-largest province, has been unsafe and a target of terrorism for years. Terrorists have neither conscience nor principles—they prioritize their own interests, and the same is happening in negative politics. Those involved in this negative politics also lack conscience or principles; they are active only for their personal and political gains. According to the Prime Minister, to improve the country’s economic situation, they have had to beg in front of the IMF. They’ve had to stoop low to request loans from friendly nations, but the ones involved in negative politics are concerned only with their own political agendas, not the country’s well-being.
Those promoting negative politics, misleading the younger generation, and fostering immorality in politics don’t realize where the country is headed. Negative politics is being promoted solely for personal interests, and some prominent lawyers, who once held the judiciary in high regard, have now joined this trend. These lawyers have turned the judiciary into a political battleground, and now, unfortunately, judicial decisions are being openly rejected as politically motivated.
In 2018, the country’s economic situation was much better. However, the governments that were formed under the RTS (Results Transmission System) were politically controversial. But the opposition of that time did not cause the same level of harm to the country that today’s opposition is inflicting. The major opposition party, which came to power for the first time, has left the nation suffering the consequences of its nearly four years in power. Despite this, those responsible for bringing the country to its current state show no concern. Judicial decisions are being made controversial, false allegations for personal and political gain are now routine, unnecessary rallies are being held, and political hatred is being fueled further.
Politics has principles, and sincere politicians participate in their preferred parties while maintaining civility and acting according to their conscience. But this is no longer the case. In the past, certain senior members were ignored by the PTI, but now, in the current political climate, they are abandoning their conscience and principles, prioritizing parliamentary positions over the nation and its people. This focus on personal interests could prove disastrous for the country’s political landscape.