Democracy Besieged - Pakistan's Far-Right Surge

An enraged Pakistani right-wing religious party, instinctually bent on playing the card of religious retaliation on political matters vowed to perpetuate a massive pro-Palestine sit-in protest at a crucial intersection of the Capital Islamabad & Rawalpindi until authorities did not accede to their demands, which severely hindered traffic and businesses. Tehrik-e-Labaik (TLP), an extremely right-wing political party exercised protests and sit-ins at Faizabad Interchange, in the capital Islamabad. The TLP workers then staged a rally leading up to the establishment of a protest camp at the interchange signifying their motives. The TLP has also demanded that the government of Pakistan give an official red card to the Israeli products and send aid and medical supplies to the Palestinians in Gaza subjected to Israel’s unrelenting aggression. 

Several far-right Islamic parties tried to mount a serious challenge in general elections, indicating that religious extremists, including persons associated with armed groups, could become integrated into Pakistan’s political process. In the last decade, Pakistan has seen the emergence of a new Islamist political party named Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan which is a challenge to democracy in Pakistan. TLP has become popular and assertive hence question arises regarding the state of democracy in Pakistan.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous consequences of the TLP is that it is forcing the mainstream political parties to adopt its extremist rhetoric to win the votes of the conservative religious population. Such a trend means the gradual consolidation of radical actors within Pakistan’s political system, which calls into question the norms of democracy and tolerance. The incorporation of radical tendencies by leading political parties undermines the basis that supports plurality and the multiplicity of political parties that are desirable in any democracy.

It has been seen that through the TLP the Barelvi Political Islam has been revived in Pakistan and it has also alienated a new generation by bringing religion deeper into state affairs. This growing influence poses a threat to state institutions’ ability to effectively combat the group and threatens the secular and democratic structure of the state. Religious entanglement in state matters raised concerns as it strikes in the foundation of democracy of granting separation between religion and state.

The TLP has been increasing in influence especially in areas that provide soldiers to the military, thus risking the emergence of two camps within the military. This division, where the lower cadre is getting relatively more conservative in its views, while the senior commanders are comparatively moderate, can prove detrimental to the integrated functioning of the military, which is a vital state institution in Pakistan. Since there are possibilities of ideological divides within the military personnel, this remains one of the higher risks to national security and stability. In this respect, the TLP will not win a great number of seats in the national assembly but act as a political spoiler. Due to such influence and policy, mainstream parties may choose to engage or ally with the TLP bringing in more political might and bargaining power. The formation of such alliances could deepen the ingress of radical thought processes into the political leadership of Pakistan and push the nation away from the tenets of democracy, many of the signs indicating the possibility of the formation of somewhat of an authoritarian structure.
On the other hand, the state’s attitude towards the TLP has far from been antagonistic or confrontational. This is an act by the state that has led to the mainstreaming of TLP’s radical ideology thereby sugar-coating the process of further radicalization of Pakistani society. The approval of extremists after supporting moderate and tolerant groups is counterproductive for a democracy.

The emergence of TLP is a threat to both the democratic and secular values of Pakistan. The political incorporation into mainstream parties, the increased pressure on state politics, the threats that armed formations present, the effects on elections, as well as the state’s permissive attitude towards the annexation impact the democratic regression. In the last decade or so, Pakistan has had a new phenomenon of the far right in its politics which challenges the very fabric of democracy. These organizations’ emergence shifts the population, inspired by radical beliefs and religious dogmatism, away from the values of democracy, tolerance, and separation of state and religion that are vital for society. The TLP may not gather enough support to win many seats in the national assembly but as a spoiler, it plays a huge part in elections. Mainstream political parties can ally with the TLP which results in its enhanced political leverage and extension of radical ideas in Pakistan’s political structure.

Another important far-right Islamist political party present in Pakistan is Jamaat-e-Islami which was formed in 1941. JI supports the legal application of Sharia and influences the political and academic spheres of the country. JI has had a very responsible role in the ideological indoctrination of Pakistani society in particular propagating and advocating conservatism and a polarized interpretation of Islam. This influence extends to different fields, especially in education where JI-affiliated groups have championed educational systems that reflect the groups’ view. JI has in the past cemented other political parties due to its ideological power hence exerting influence over policies. Such partnerships generally lead to the practices of political regeneration that undermine democracy and secularism.

JUI was officially established in 1945 and is a Deobandi Islamist party with major support in Pakistan’s FATA and KP. JUI demands Islamic Shariah and has its links in several operations of militancy. Since its inception, JUI has been accused of having links with militant outfits and it has supported the Taliban factions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. With militancy is a clear and present danger to the sovereignty of the nation and averse to the dictates of democracy. Another party that has a large following in elections is the JUI, especially in the areas that are known to have a large number of people who embrace religion. The party’s power in these regions determines the results of elections and supports policies that are contrary to democracy.

Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) are purely and the militant wings of far-right winged party in Pakistan. These are groups that have held unfavorable views towards the Shia people and have engaged in sectarian violence. Both SSP and LeJ have played a vital role in escalating sectarian violence in Pakistan. They promote dangerous and violent ideologies that are detrimental to society’s cohesiveness, which is crucial in democracy. Such activities of SSP and LeJ pose a great threat to the federal character of Pakistan’s pluralistic society by encouraging intolerance and violence against minorities. This weakens pluralism which opposes many of the democratic values of equality and protection of all the citizens.

The new political faces of Pakistan like TLP, JI, JUI, SSP, and LeJ are a major threat to the free democratic structure in the country. Such groups are a clear threat to the tenets of pluralism, secularism, and multiculturalism, which are critical foundations of any healthy democracy. Now, more than ever, due to these challenges that Pakistan is currently facing, it is imperative that the country work towards addressing the dangers that stem from far-right politics in an attempt to reclaim greater democratization. The future of Pakistan’s democracy depends on the ability of the state to counter the insurgence of extremism and keep the state and political systems pluralistic.