POPULISM IN PAKISTAN

Populism is defined as a political ideology and stance that believes in striving for their people. This stance
believes in voicing and empathizing with its population. Populism is often sought by politicians often
depicting themselves as concerned for its nation and its civilians. Populism can exist on the basis of
culture, race, ethnicity, socio-economic class, and religion but generally in Pakistan and else-where
populism is referred to on a holistic level.

Pakistan has a history, that ever since the death of founding leaders it has been under a steady grip of
either Military or the Elitist. The Military era is often referred to as “Martial Law” wherein Pakistan
comes under dictatorship and the Pakistani parliament is dissolved. Under a Martial Law, the rules of
Pakistan are defined by a dictator which makes or breaks the economy. Such examples of Dictators
include; General Zia-ul-Haq, General Parvez Musharraf etcetera. Pakistan furthermore has other parties
that are known as the Elitist parties. Such parties include the infamous Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
[PML-N] which runs under the administration of the Sharif brothers and Pakistan People’s Party [PPP]
which runs under the Bhutto-Zardari administration.

Elitist parties are often known to be corrupt in nature. These parties are known to have siphoned off
money from the poor in the name of “donations” and “loans” from foreign institutions such as the World
Bank and International Monetary Funds (IMF) and transfer the amount to bank accounts located in
various foreign countries and invest heavily in local and foreign assets. Moreover, these parties are
convicted to have spent a significant part of such an amount on themselves, friends, family, and top-tier
party members. Whereas, a small chunk of that amount is used for the public and their needs. Due to
which Pakistan has faced an increase in its debts and thus facing a ravaged economy.

Elitist parties often come into power through its “fake” promises to the poor, in the name of religion. Such
votes come on the basis of the likeness of cultural ethnicity, race or religion. However, the civilians of
Pakistan often fail to understand the dynamics of the current account deficit, the Pakistani economy or
even what they would be getting into, if the same elitist came into power, due to lack of knowledge and
education. The elitists, on the other hand, fail to empathize with its civilians rather than feed them
promises and lies, never to come back to them again once given power.

Pakistan has been under the rule of the Elitist political parties for generations; however, with growing
education, Populism is on a rise and is gradually growing. Many people consider the current Prime
minister of Pakistan; Imran Khan Niazi to be an ideal personification of populism as opposed to people
from opposing parties. Countries worldwide believe in advocating for the poor, eradicating healthcare
issues and poverty and they choose leaders for themselves that have a similar political agenda and
manifesto which can be described as “the best of them to lead the nation”. Many experts and observers
believe that with the election of 2018, Pakistan has once again joined the likeness of nations to become a
populist country.

The populist aims to deconstruct the previous and ruling establishment and similar institutions and give
them a new image and structure, one that fits the need of the country and the time. Though this requires
much trial and error. However, sooner or later a new model is formed which is based on equality and
equity. The ruling institutions and establishments which were only “helpful” or served the purpose of the
Elitist are overthrown and deconstructed to facilitate the common man.

The sole intention of such populism is to aid the poor and have their voices and problems heard. Pakistan
under the Elitist rule had an unstructured system, with a lack of civil rights, law, and order. Within
Pakistan, people could get away with practically anything because of a lack of regulatory authorities and
payment of bribes to various personnel. This system existed during the Elitist rule which facilitated the
government body but rather caused feelings of discontentment and disgruntlement amongst the local
civilians of the nation. The money was distributed in a way in which the rich got richer whereas, the poor
got poorer with a humongous debt which pushed them far below the poverty line.

Various financial institutions are constructed such as National Accountability Bureau have been
constructed which determined a huge amount had been siphoned off into foreign bank accounts and aim
at recovering them. The Populist Khan aims and intended to use that amount to pay off the debts and
lower the current account deficit which peaked during the tenure, of such Elitist parties. The nation of
Pakistan is a third world country with one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. This nation is full of
gullible and naive believers who believe one day they too will see their children going to school and
having an easier shot in life. Such Elitists often play upon such sentiments of the masses where in fact
they will never be able to empathize with them on the same level.

The populist leader Imran Khan has done various acts which have caused some resentment amongst the
people one of which is the peak inflation having People concerned about where this nation is heading but
there are several positives which have been praised by people. The PTI government came into power for
the first time with a populist ideology that feels like a breath “a fresh air” as opposed to a change of faces
with the same elitist ideology. The only agenda observed was working for people, and helping the nation
of Pakistan come out of its debts, and restoring the already plundered economy.

Pakistan has gone back to square one, where the populist government intends to make amendments by
enforcing strict laws in order to let justice prevail. The government has to work from within the roots
which though has brought some set-backs and met resistance from people, and though the civilians may
be hesitant and doubtful of the new government there is a probability, that appointing the populist
believer Imran Khan Niazi, maybe a fruitful decision after-all. Pakistan has once again gained massive
respect within the world forum, with Imran Khan delivering his populist ideologies, advocating for its
people in popular forums such as United Nations General Assembly. Though there are certain doubts over
the people working under him, though their intentions may be right, there might be a certain degree of
incompetence which at times backfires when their plans are executed on a macro level

Though this government has faced many setbacks, as opposed to the previous governments, such as the
Ongoing Kashmir Issue, the Asia Bibi case and the ongoing economic crisis with the rising inflation rate.
the government tries to take prompt and appropriate action when needed which is highly commendable,
given that previously the voices of the citizens were often muffled when it came to the tenures of the
Elitist government. Pakistan has much potential and under the leadership of the right people it can
certainly come a long way and improve on its image. Under the leadership of the populist government and
various trials and errors this nation can break the shackles of the Elitist parties and move forward.