Job well done, gentlemen!
The posts of prime minister and chief ministers were handed over to four former judges and one journalist for a critical period of two months. The two-month honey moon period for the political parties has now come to a close. Gladly most would say as the caretakers were getting a little controversial by the day with their inability to deal with the energy crisis, the presentation of mini-budgets and some controversial transfers. Nonetheless caretaker Prime Minister Khoso is due a welcome good-bye. For the most part, the caretakers stuck to their tasks, and have overseen the first successful democratic transition in the country.
With members of the Sindh and Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP) assemblies sworn in and respective speakers and deputy speakers elected, Balochistan, Punjab and the National Assembly are set to follow suit soon enough. Political parties are no longer negotiating to put their man at the helm; with the position clearest in KP, Sindh, Punjab and the National Assembly as to who will take the post of chief minister. The only questions remaining are over Balochistan, where the National Party’s Dr Malik may be fielded as an alternate candidate. Mostly however we are set to be greeted with familiar faces at the helm: Nawaz Sharif as third-time prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif as fourth-time chief minister Punjab, Qaim Ali Shah as third-time chief minister Sindh. But each appears to be coming with a battle-mindset as the two-party hegemony has been broken with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) having much to prove at the helm in KP.
It is hoped that the competition amongst provinces will be healthy and be mutually conducive. The National Assembly is set to induct its new members on June 1; and appears all set to elect Nawaz Sharif as prime minister, with a significant majority. Despite the fears of election violence, the caretaker set up has managed to tow the election period well, with no major controversies erupting. History should judge the current caretakers as the least controversial and thus the best to have been brought in to steady the realm in democratic transitions. Each caretaker cabinet is receiving its farewells – with much praise from all political parties. Caretaker prime minister Khoso has left the Prime Minister House and shifted to the Balochistan House. The process of peaceful transfer of power is almost complete. The exercise has followed the set rules and is yet another victory for electoral democracy in the country. All we can say is: job well done, gentlemen! Job well done.
