• Political victimisation of opponents in Pakistan is widespread.
• Investment has been hindered due to the perceived risk.
• It is necessary for the government to take measures.

Political victimisation of opponents in Pakistan is a widespread and persistent issue that has been undermining the democratic values of the country for decades.

The practice of political victimisation involves the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents by the ruling party. This is often carried out through the use of arbitrary arrests, false accusations and trumped-up charges, aimed at silencing the opposition voices, curbing dissent and maintaining the status quo.

This practice has been a major impediment to the growth of democracy in the country. Democracy is built on the principles of free and fair elections, freedom of speech and the rule of law. However, political victimisation severely erodes these principles, leading to a situation, where the citizens are afraid to speak out against the government and the opposition is unable to participate in the democratic process freely.

The consequences are far-reaching, creating a general distrust of the government. It also creates a sense of insecurity among the citizens and makes it difficult for the government to gain the confidence and support of the populace.

One of the most concerning aspects of political victimisation is its impact on the freedom of speech. The political opponents, journalists and human rights activists who speak out against the government are often targeted and subject to harassment, intimidation and physical violence. This has led to a situation, where the citizens are afraid to express their opinions and to engage in political discourse and has created a chilling effect on the freedom of speech in the country.

Political victimisation is also having a negative impact on the economy. Investment has been hindered due to the perceived risk of doing business in an environment, where the rule of law is weak and the government is prone to using its power to target its opponents. This has had a detrimental effect on job creation and economic growth and has perpetuated poverty and inequality in the country.

To address this issue, it is necessary for the government to take measures and ensure that all citizens, including political opponents, are protected from harassment, intimidation and persecution. This can be achieved through the implementation of effective legal mechanisms to protect the freedom of speech and through strengthening the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

Further, the government must ensure that the state institutions are not used to persecute political opponents and that they are held accountable for any human rights violations that they commit.
In conclusion, the political victimisation of opponents is a serious issue that has the potential to undermine the growth of democracy. It is imperative that the government takes steps to address this issue and to protect the rights and interests of all citizens, including political opponents.

The writer is a political scientist and MPhil scholar

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