DND Report
Writing about domestic subjects is not the domain of this scribe, nor does addressing domestic political dynamics fall within my sphere. Nevertheless, there are sometimes instances where it is necessary to address domestic discourse if it poses a threat to national security and is critically intertwined.
The hate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for national institutions is proven and not a subject to explain further because every sane mind can decipher that PTI always tries to discredit the Pakistan Army and its leadership and openly abuses them without the fear of being questioned or facing legal proceedings. While carefully following PTI social media handles and listening to statements of their leaders, it has been noted that PTI is trying to establish that the Pakistan Army and its leadership have special support for the PML-N-led Punjab Government. However, the Pakistan Army has time and again stated that it has nothing to do with politics and the political administration of any party. PTI is trying to establish that the PMLN-led Punjab Government is a “red line” of the Pakistan Army, so it is being protected by the institution.
The theory being sold (through social as well as mainstream media) is fairly perilous for the institution because right/wrong administrative actions of the Punjab Government would be put on the pan of the institution. The wisdoms of modern theorists such as Jürgen Habermas, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler Pierre Bourdieu leave a message for state that the relationship among power, political knowledge, and social resistance is fluid, undetermined, and unsettled, so the real power (permanent state) has to stay outside political linkages and likeness. We in Pakistan have already documented the consequences of Project Imran when an individual was preferred over the State in the past.
The training of PTI Cult is anti-state institutions, so its followers do not waste time in spreading anti-Army propaganda with full force, and proclivities are present to accept whatever the party (PTI) is saying. Psychopathological conditions such as narcissism are there, and a cognitive bias called “illusory pattern perception” is being used again.
There is no doubt left that PTI again is engaged in a campaign to undermine the credibility of the Pakistan Army with a deep-rooted political strategy aimed at reshaping public perceptions, raising concerns that such a narrative could blur the lines between political accountability and institutional integrity, thereby jeopardizing the stability of both. The portrayal of the Punjab Government as a “red line” for the Army could lead to dangerous repercussions, not only for the political landscape but also for the broader fabric of society, which relies on the belief in the impartiality and professionalism of its military institutions. The fluidity and complexity of power relations necessitate a nuanced approach to public discourse, encouraging both state and social institutions to engage critically with the narratives being constructed around them.
Given this context, it is indeed the responsibility of state media managers to proactively manage the narrative surrounding their roles and responsibilities. This could involve clear communication strategies that reaffirm their commitment to neutrality and transparency in political matters, thereby counteracting any attempts to politicize their actions or align them with particular political parties.
As we know, Pakistan historically navigates complexities, such as the role of state institutions and civic discourse, so the responsibility lies with state institutions to circumvent the trap laid by PTI to discredit them.
Editor’s Note: The name of the writer is withheld on request
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk.
