POLITICS AS RHETORIC: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PAKISTANI POLITICIANS' PRESS STATEMENTS

Purpose of the Study: This paper aims at unveiling the linguistic repertoire through the analysis of the press statements of the leading figures of the then ruling party of Pakistan (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) - PMLN and the opposition party there (Pakistan People’s Party (Parliamentarians) - PPPP. The main focus of this research is to reveal the language game of key politicians who seem anxious to complete their tenure irrespective of the issues faced by the people and usurpation of their basic rights. Methodology: For highlighting the hidden meanings in language usage, the researchers have deployed the approach of Gee’s (2011) seven building tasks of language, for the accomplishment of the study objective. Main Findings: The study findings indicate the manipulation and exploitation of the public by politicians through the game of words, shrouded in manifestos of prosperity/development, leading consequently to deterioration of the law-and-order situation, unemployment, nepotism, poverty, and black-marketing. Applications of the Study: The Study can help those working in critical linguistics, discourse studies, hermeneutics, and textual studies. Novelty/Originality of the Study: The study is significant and unique because it is the first of its kind that makes the discourse opposition party a holistic one by focusing on the perspectives of the key figures of the opposition in government. It is not a case study related to a single politician and their outlook(s).