Following in the footsteps of the narratologist Imran
This political theatrics feels familiar. Former premier Imran Khan perfected the art, and now, a leading contender for the next PM, Nawaz Sharif, has adopted the same. preferring to address the nation from a controlled setting instead of rallying in extremes.
Previously, only the prime ministers or the president used to address the nation via national television but the trend has changed in the recent past.
Now, the bigwigs of the political parties use social media platforms to address people but label it as an address to the nation. One example of this was when Nawaz delivered his address to the nation the other day emulating what Imran used to do through social media.
Pakistan’s Political Twister
“This is the age of Imran Khan,” renowned political expert, Zaigham Khan said, saying “Imran Khan is the trendsetter of the 21st century while others follow his footsteps.” On the new trend of addressing the nation when one is addressing his party workers and supporters, the expert noted that Imran had started the trend after he was ousted from power but “Nawaz has followed suit now.”
Before social media, only the prime minister or head of state would address the country on state television. However, Zaigham noted that social media has altered the course of politics and the political narrative, noting that leaders such as Imran, Nawaz, and others do not currently occupy the top positions but instead use social media to communicate with authority and aura.
He pointed out that the main distinction is that whereas others have been merely imitating Imran’s ideas and anticipating similar outcomes, Imran is the one setting trends. According to Zaigham, Imran has been using social media as a means of exerting influence over his story in the era of new media, which gives narratives wings. “Imran Khan is the narratologist; he makes his narrative fly on social media,” contends one party, adding that others simply start doing what Imran does in terms of using social media to spread the word.
PTI Promises Political Resurgence Ahead
However, Zaigham recalled, the Pakistan Peoples Party was the trendsetter before PTI, noting that it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s train journey from Rawalpindi to Lahore and the welcome that he received that gave birth to PPP.
Therefore, he continued, Bhutto initiated the train march that other parties eventually chose, lamenting the lack of innovation in political parties. Professor Tahir Naeem Malik of NUML University stated, “Earlier, political parties would organize rallies at Mochi Darwaza, Nasir Bagh, or Liaquat Bagh, but much is happening in the virtual space these days.” He also added, “Political activities are mainly managed through social media these days.”
The professor acknowledged that Imran Khan is the trendsetter of today because of his wider range of interactions with people, including YouTubers, lawyers, political heavyweights, and the general public. Bhutto, on the other hand, would interact with university students, writers, farmers, trade unionists, and the general public, claiming that political leaders engage in this type of politics.
He pointed out that the leaders of “other parties” don’t even get to see regular people for weeks or months. Professor Malik stated that Nawaz Sharif has only spoken to a group in Lahore upon his arrival, in contrast to Imran and Bhutto, and that he has since favored “drawing room interaction,” or interacting with people virtually.
Nawaz’s Return Poised to Shift Political Landscape
He noted that Nawaz went to Quetta but stayed in a five-star hotel and the little interaction he had with people was after barring media from attending it.
“PML-N was a drawing party and going back to drawing room politics is natural for it,” Professor Malik said. When asked about the closed-room address to the nation and whether it was due to security concerns, Malik didn’t fully agree and said that Nawaz and several others do not face the kind of threats that the Awami National Party and ex-premier Benazir Bhutto faced.
He concluded by saying that drawing room politics is no substitute for street politics, saying only Nawaz made PML-N somewhat an “Awami party” as many others neither have much public appeal nor seem comfortable in reaching out to the masses.
