The negative politics that we witness today in Pakistan has its genesis in 1977 when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had won the elections hands down, but the opposition alliance of nine political parties under the banner of Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) launched a movement to oust him.

The allegation that there was rigging in about 50 seats of the National Assembly led Gen. Ziaul Haq to impose martial law that continued for 10 years. Benazir Bhutto too after winning the 1988 elections could not complete her term due to intermittent civil-military interference.

But incidents of negative politics can be found in other countries too whether it is in Europe or the US if one examines it critically. The classic example is that of the US presidential election in 2000 when Al-Gore charged George Bush of electoral rigging and which dented much of the US political image.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan who always cites western democracies can take lessons from this and should do positive things that may help develop the political culture in our country rather than derailing the system.

The country is rich with enough resources, both human and natural, and can move forward if we tend to think positively and act constructively. We need to get out of the negative politics and help the system move forward through productive opposition.

The demonstrations are good in a political system, but it should not lead to anarchy and disorder in the country otherwise we would become tools in the hands of unknown forces that do not want to see Pakistan becoming a prosperous state. The degenerating political atmosphere that we witness today will only help such elements. —

Dr. Syed M. Zubair, Dhahran