PML-N gets a taste of its own medicine
While criticising a sitting government is easier, walking in its shoes is not the same. This is what the N League government must be having a taste of right now. Its economic policies have not done anything exceptional for the people yet while the public backlash amid the rapid price hikes, load-shedding and increasing fuel prices has been unforgiving. The PML-N leaders, including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, were though quick to lay the blame on the previous government, but the age-old trick of blaming it on your predecessors doesn’t sell any longer.
The PM, in a U-turn on his pre-election promises, has adopted the erstwhile most hated ‘begging bowl’. Reports say that he has requested the Japanese government for a $1.5bn loan for Karachi Circular Railway project. He must have come to realise that to criticise a government must be easier than carrying the burden. Addressing a special cabinet meeting, he also gave the good news that China would provide $6.5bn concessional loan for N-plants. Whether it is good news or not remains yet to be seen. The PM was quick to decry those who criticised the deal with the IMF. On the other hand, the finance minister conceded there was rise in inflation but accused the PPP government for being responsible for it, but absolving the present dispensation smacks of passing the buck. Paying the circular debt in one go, the PML-N did cause some inflation in the country, while also not solving the energy shortage issue on both distribution and production ends. The PML-N leaders need to learn to accept criticism as a part of healthy democratic system that aims at removing all the loopholes and deficiencies while maturing the system to a level where it becomes strong enough to ward off attacks from non-democratic entities.
Being a politician does not make one an economist. It is a complex science and even the most experienced can be wrong. Politicians, particularly in our neck of the woods, should speak responsibly generally, and particularly regarding economic policies and statements, irrespective of whether they are in government or opposition. Economic issues should not be poiticised. Similarly they should learn to own their mistakes rather than putting blame on their predecessors. This is not a mature way of conducting politics.
