Will We Ever Conclude?

Khushhal Khan

Islamabad: “Pro-democracy public”,  a slogan that continues to pierce our ears, yet few truly understand what it means. You can’t just look it up in a dictionary. I tried but no luck. So I thought: maybe breaking the term down would help. I separated “democracy” from “the public who like it” and began to dig deeper.

Democracy — a golden ideal, a sacred slogan, but in reality, a magnificently scripted spectacle.

“Public who like” those who gleefully cheer on the spectacle, clap at all the right moments, and buy tickets to the same circus again and again, thinking this time it might be different.

Democracy: it’s a grand human experiment, often hailed as one of civilization’s greatest achievements. Yet, even its original inventors have struggled to realize its full promise.

In our context, democracy is not an ideal ,  it’s a rigged game. A game where referees keep changing the rules,  even the field. The players? The same old faces, just in different jerseys. Teams are formed at the will of elusive, often mythical “boards.” The match is scripted from start to finish. Everyone is expected to play along. Question it  and you’re immediately shown the flag, often a red one.

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Every now and then, dissent is staged in public — just enough to give the illusion of real debate. But it’s all choreographed, just more content for the masses.

The so-called “pro-democracy public”? They’re not players. They’re spectators , fully aware it’s all a show, but powerless to change the script. They chant and cheer because that’s all they can do.

Slogans are crafted, dreams are sold, flashy campaigns begin, flags are waved, social media erupts ,  and then, right on cue, the results arrive. Pre-decided. Scripted. The public either celebrates their “team’s” win or goes home disheartened.

But this manipulation of democracy in Pakistan isn’t just a game ,  it’s a national tragedy. It doesn’t take place in stadiums. It plays out in our villages, towns, and cities. The emotions stirred aren’t fleeting but  their consequences linger for years. The rivalries created divide communities, even families.

The media? It’s the game’s official commentator. It analyzes every move, interviews the “players,” keeps the crowd engaged. Even during off-season, it runs post-match analyses and predictions — anything to keep the show alive.

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Over the years, the game has introduced us to several legendary “players”:

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto — all fell to the establishment.

Muhammad Khan Junejo was given the red card and swiftly removed.

Yousaf Raza Gillani is on a yellow card, trying to re-enter the field.

Asif Zardari? A master at dodging red cards; an expert survivor.

Nawaz Sharif enters, breaks rules, and then retires citing poor health.

And Imran Khan? The ultimate player who took the game too seriously — tried to rewrite the rules. For that, he was swiftly shown the red card. Now the debate is whether to exile him completely or retire him quietly, with sympathy. Bhutto’s supporters were disappointed , and then silent. The same with Nawaz Sharif.

Imran Khan’s followers made more noise , a few agitations, a little chaos  but the security was tight, and the match resumed without interruption.

These are not opinions. These are facts. The “pro-democracy public” knows it’s a theatre. They are the passionate audience — waving flags, chanting slogans, celebrating or mourning the outcomes.

And that’s the greatest success of this game:

The public is entertained.

The players are busy.

The board is satisfied.

And so the game ends — but the ugly business continues.

Everyone knows where the real game is played.

But no one has yet figured out how to stop it.

Only in Pakistan is such a game not just preserved but proudly played.

The writer is an Islamabad-based legal practitioner.