The periodic fits of impatience that overtake the opposition make it forget that politics is the art of the possible. One appreciates the opposition’s dissatisfaction with the performance of the government but the opposition would harm both itself and the system if it was to relapse into the type of agitational mode that characterised the 90’s. In democracies, the established practice for the opposition is to use all available platforms to expose the government policies while waiting for the elections. Similarly, the opposition is within its right to win over the junior partners in a coalition and thus replace the incumbent administration through a vote of no confidence. Any attempt to dislodge an administration which has yet to complete its tenure through agitation can only weaken the system and encourage Bonapartist tendencies.
Mian Nawaz Sharif’s statements create the perception of indecisiveness. He would like to be part of the coalition government, he says, if it could come up with a workable solution to the country’s problems. Moments later he remarks that if the government stays in power any longer, it could be disastrous for the country. This leads his critics to maintain that he has no coherent policy or programme and simply reacts to events. He had rejected in strongest terms both the MQM and PML(Q) but indicated a willingness to work with them hoping that they could be manipulated to bring about an in-house change. The PML(N) had failed to understand that the MQM and PML(Q) were as much dependant on the PPP as the PPP was on them and therefore none of the coalition partners would be willing to upset the applecart. A relaxed Gilani has now challenged the opposition to bring a vote of no confidence against him.
While bad performance has taken away much of the glitter of the coalition government, the PML(N) has fared no better. It has thus lost by-elections in a number of Punjabi constituencies. Hopefully, the outcome of the call for protest on Thursday would provide it a reality check. The opposition also remains badly divided. Under the circumstances it would do well to stop dreaming about the overthrow of the government through extra constitutional means and instead wait for its turn.