POLITICIANS AND PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

The “politics” and “politicians” have a deep nexus that further enhances the governing culture in a society. Likewise, the “ideas” and “ideologies” have the same relation for proving a genuine and realistic governing approach. As for as the public is concerned, all people are political thinkers whether they know it or not, people use political ideas and concepts whenever they express their opinion or speak their mind. Similarly, in public, a language is littered with terms such as ‘freedom’, ‘equality’, ’fairness’, and ‘justice’. In the same way, words such as ‘conservative’, ‘fascist’, ‘liberal’ and ‘socialist’ are regularly employed by people either to describe their own views or those of others.

The political culture in our society is, more or less, quarantined with ‘self-interest’, ‘hatred’ and ‘moral corruption and is blind to ‘vision’, ‘ideas’ and ‘political ideology. In this respect, politicians are subject to the one very influential tool “Power”. Without a doubt, almost all politicians want power. This forces them to be pragmatic, to adopt those policies and ideas that are electorally popular or win favor with power full groups, such as ‘business’, ‘religion’ and the ‘military’. However, politicians seldom seek power simply for its own sake. In this context, the true political ‘ideas’ and ‘ideology’ can act as a form of social cement, providing intellectual groups, integrating public opinion, and indeed whole society, with a set of unifying ‘interest’ and ‘vision’. However, ideas and ideologies can also succeed in binding together divergent groups and classes within a society.

Ironically, the national and provincial political approach of a single voter is not more than a job or sewerage line and the link road in their respective constituency. In the same way, the politicians have no more than authority or political influence in WAPDA or PWD, to catch the jobs and services for locals. For years, a significant portion of the population in Gilgit-Baltistan has a lack of the essential internet and library facility. Students are striving to find online classes or research assignments at the top of the mountains for catching the internet. Complaints are usually wrapped into files and politically push back the telecom companies for working in the region. There is an absolute need to change the overall political approach, from voter to politician, and focus on the genuine and fundamental issues of the masses.