Re: PTI
I am from KPK but only returned recently to Pakistan so my opinion is based on what I have seen in the last two months.
I think KPK (and Pakistan) has always had two problems: 1. Administrative, 2. Ideological.
Administrative in the sense that regardless of the kind of ideology (secular, theological etc.) we have, we don’t have a proper administrative system. There are things which can be done regardless of ideology e.g., better policing, e-governance, providing clean drinking water, better sewage, waste disposal systems etc. I think, from administrative point of view, I have seen a positive change in both Peshawar and Abbottabad (two important cities of KPK). The ‘chowks’ which were unmanned before, can now be seen manned by traffic police. The streets which were mostly littered before, are now regularly cleaned by sweepers etc. These are small things but, nonetheless, positive. Overall, I would say, on the administrative side, PTI is going in the right direction but very very slowly. It needs to pick up pace. Perhaps, easier said than done.
Ideological in the sense that KPK needs de-radicalization. PTI is not touching the root cause of radicalization i.e. textbooks. We are teaching ‘hate’ to our kids. I’d love to see that replaced with a curriculum that teaches acceptance of other religions and tolerance and diversity in general. Without these, only administrative steps to improve law and order situation would be like planting and growing poisonous (if it makes sense) trees and then just focusing on efficient tools to cut them once they grow. If we want to get rid of them, we need to stop planting and growing them in the first place. We need to start growing trees that give shade and fruit to others. I think, PTI has failed miserably in this regard. They don’t have any plan to tackle this problem. Perhaps, again, easier said than done as their government depends on the support of JI but I think if they were ready to sacrifice their government for the sake of fair elections, this would have been a greater cause to put your government on stake for.
Excellent post. Informative and balanced. Can you also comment on if PTI can address ideological war that we should fight in our mosques and madaaris? Text books need to be modified too - however these terrorists are products of hate from mullah culture rampant in KPK also Punjab. I have serious doubt Imran Khan understands the scope of cancer that needs to be cut off.