RECENT events are another reminder of how elusive political stability remains in the country.
asserted
stability → remain → country
The confrontation between PTI and the government escalated after an effort at dialogue between them ended in mutual recriminations.
asserted
effort → escalate → recriminations
PTI pressed ahead with its protest march that the federal government tried to stop by threatening to oust the KP government through imposition of governor’s rule.
asserted
government → press → rule
The usual wave of arrests of party activists preceded the opposition’s march.
asserted
wave → precede → march
The Shehbaz Sharif government is now set on imposing an emergency and governor’s rule in KP in a move that is likely to inflame sentiment in the province and exacerbate the situation.
asserted
that → set → situation
This is a rerun of a familiar script, except it is set against a backdrop of deepening authoritarianism.
asserted
it → set → authoritarianism
It also marks a dangerous phase in confrontational politics with the federal authorities and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government at loggerheads.
asserted
It → mark → loggerheads
Inflammatory rhetoric by federal ministers was matched by fiery speeches from KP’s Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
asserted
rhetoric → match → Minister
Other than the brief interlude of dialogue, the government responded to the opposition protest by its usual mix of coercion, threats, and incendiary statements.
asserted
government → respond → coercion
It took the consequential decision to impose an emergency in KP and bring the province under federal control.
asserted
It → take → control
The cabinet has approved this while parliament has been convened to sanction the move.
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parliament → approve → move
The most egregious use of coercion was the reported abductions and incommunicado detention of over eight PTI MPs, including three members of the National Assembly.
asserted
use → include → Assembly
Using coercive means to manage the opposition has only reinforced the government’s slide into authoritarianism, which has resulted in the country’s democratic decline.
asserted
which → use → decline
This has been evidenced in the past couple of years in actions taken against the opposition and other critics: banning public gatherings, breaking up protest demonstrations, arresting opposition supporters, raiding homes of political leaders, filing cases against them, policing the media, imposing internet restrictions and criminalising free speech.
asserted
This → evidence → speech
The erosion of institutions meant to check executive power has contributed to growing autocratisation.
asserted
erosion → mean → autocratisation
The shell of democracy remains, but it is increasingly hollowed out.
asserted
it → remain → democracy
The aim of these actions is to tighten the government’s grip on the political system and the country.
asserted
aim → tighten → system
But it does not make the government strong.
asserted
government → make → ?
It signals weakness, not confidence.
asserted
It → signal → confidence
Some argue there is nothing new in this phase of repression, that it continues a familiar tradition and borrows from a well-worn playbook.
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it → argue → playbook
Previous civilian governments, too, were guilty of undemocratic conduct, intolerance of opposition, jailing rivals on trumped-up charges, marginalising parliament, curbing press freedom, and undermining judicial independence.
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governments → jail → independence
But the scale and scope of the repressive measures today go beyond anything seen under a civilian government before.
Using coercive measures and undermining institutions do not produce stability.
asserted
Using → go → stability
Public space is being encroached upon in an unprecedented manner.
asserted
space → encroach → manner
Because there is more to control in the digital era, especially social media, the present government has gone much further than its civilian predecessors in imposing digital space curbs and censorship and micromanaging the electronic media.
asserted
government → be → media
The rationale offered by spokesmen of the hybrid government, when pressed to justify such measures, is that they are necessary for political stability.
asserted
they → offer → stability
But does the veneer of calm imposed by force bring stability?
asserted
veneer → impose → stability
Coercion does not produce stability.
asserted
Coercion → produce → stability
It deepens polarisation, erodes the social contract, divides the country further, and fuels uncertainty.
asserted
It → deepen → uncertainty
The opposition represents a large section of society, has a significant parliamentary presence, and runs the government in KP.
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opposition → represent → KP
To suppress and demonise it does not promote stability.
asserted
suppress → suppress → stability
It guarantees the continuation of political confrontation.
asserted
It → guarantee → confrontation
The economic cost of relentless political tensions and government-opposition conflict is plain to see.
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cost → see → tensions
Frequent shutdowns and blockade of cities hit businesses hard.
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shutdowns → hit → businesses
It vitiates the business climate.
asserted
It → vitiate → climate
This at a time when recovery has yet to take hold, economic growth remains anaemic and stabilisation is still fragile.
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stabilisation → have → hold
Jittery investors hold back, deterred by the spectre of turmoil and unrest.
asserted
investors → hold → turmoil
Celebrating every tranche received from the IMF doesn’t obscure the reality that the economy is yet to embark on the path to sustainable growth.
asserted
economy → celebrate → growth
Meanwhile, all recent surveys — Gallup, Ipsos — show declining public confidence in economic conditions and pessimism about the country’s economic future.
asserted
surveys → show → future
Clearly, the country’s economic problems cannot be tackled in a politically volatile environment.
asserted
problems → tackle → environment
Political stability requires a reset on several fronts.
asserted
stability → require → fronts
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
