With the parliament having passed the budget, the government faces no immediate threat. As the PPP has promised not to create any trouble during the budget session in Punjab, the PML(N) government too should be sailing smoothly in the province. It is difficult therefore to understand why the statements of leaders from both sides are becoming increasingly acrimonious. It is worrisome that political discourse is moving away from issues and is getting personalised instead. The trend is illustrated by the recent spat between Babar Awan and Rana Sanaullah, the ace attackers of their respective political teams who consider offence as the best means of defence. Last week, Rana broke all bounds of decency by declaring that Awan was wajib-ul-qatl or fit to be killed. More recently, he has called Awan Zardari’s main instrument of corruption and a black sheep among the lawyers.
The issue of Zardari’s alleged corruption has been turned into a refrain by Mian Nawaz Sharif in his campaign speeches in AJK. This has led a number of PPP leaders to hit back with similar charges. Nawaz was accused by a party leader of making use of the Punjab government’s funds to buy votes in AJK. Babar Awan has called the PML(N) chief the biggest loan defaulter in the country and a man involved in mega corruption. Once the court’s stay orders are vacated, Awan said, Nawaz will get the comeuppance that he richly deserves. While corruption is an important national issue, the best way to deal with anyone supposed to be involved in it is to drag him to the court. This is needed all the more when the judiciary is widely seen to be independent. Levelling personal charges in public meetings vitiates the political atmosphere without putting an end to the malaise.
With the element of rancor increasing, the politicians are liable to lose sense of balance. Charges invariably lead to counter charges while the unending blame game generates cynicism in the common man. A day comes when the man in the street is forced to cry, “plague on both houses”. Unless the hazards of polarisation are realised, it may not be long before the politicians once again upset the apple cart and rue it for a long time to come.
