The recent development in the UK parliament does carry lessons for Pakistani politicians. Scandal-ridden Boris Johnson has quit as British prime minister after he was abandoned by ministers and most of his Conservative lawmakers. After his decision to resign, the Conservatives have started a quest to elect a new leader, a process which could take weeks or months. Among more than one dozens scandals faced by Johnson, major ones included donations for refurbishment of Johnson’s downing street flat, emergence of illegal properties at Dawning Street during lockdowns, a leaked email from Jonhson’s private secretary inviting 100 people to a party at Dawning Street during lockdown etc. This followed months of scandals and missteps, including a damning report into boozy parties at his Downing Street residence and office that broke Covid-19 lockdown rules and saw him fined by police over a gathering for his 56th birthday.
The crisis comes as Britons are facing the tightest squeeze on their finances in decades, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, with soaring inflation, and the economy forecast to be the weakest among major nations in 2023 apart from Russia. Starting his career as a journalist in 1989, Johnson’s career culminated on July 7 after reaching the top slot of premiership. During his stint as the PM, he has little to boast of regarding his performance although he counts himself among the UK’s highly regarded prime ministers like Winston Churchill. During his premiership, his country did not make any exemplary progress. At the economic front, UK’s progress remained unsatisfactory while inflation rate remained high. He came into power after alienation of UK from Europe that also made an impact on his political career besides numerous scandals.
One thing is admirable in this development that there is no agitation on a large scale or any announcement of launching a countrywide protest movement by Johnson who has preferred to resign instead of clinging to the power. An attitude which has been missing in the Pakistani context where politicians never accept defeat or mistrust gracefully. A similar twist was witnessed in Pakistan when Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion when a number of his own MNAs changed their loyalties. But things are happening here differently. PTI chief Imran Khan has started an agitation movement and wants early elections at any cost. He has also hurled a barrage of accusations against the military establishment for his removal from power. This attitude does not limit to Imran Khan alone; rather, almost every politician gives a similar response when his removal becomes inevitable unlike Mr. Johnson who peacefully resigned without endangering the country’s democratic system.
