Never sublime, often ridiculous

The government’s shocking priority list

Once again the ‘N’ League rides a heavy mandate government into unnecessary political turbulence, the kind they have known to quickly snowball to existential proportions. And if not allowing anyone but their core far right lobby, not even the army, near the Taliban debate was far from sublime, the party’s handling of the talks’ fallout has been plain ridiculous. There aren’t many countries, after all, where the interior minister is embarrassed for failure to ensure “fool proof security” for the capital, repeatedly. And there is definitely no country in the world where the home minister would imply the second attack took place because of defective detectors that the previous administration imported from China.

But there was more, and this sweetener came from the information minister. Not only did the Taliban not do it – since they said so – but they condemned it, which is proof of the talks’ success. The TTP also had its two pence for insurgent brethren up in arms in Balochistan; Islam does not justify innocent blood, no matter how Sharia compliant the cause. But instead of taking note of the holy warriors’ hypocrisy, the government mouthpiece had nothing but praise, a confident smile complementing his confident body language.

It is this front-foot posture taken up by the prime minister’s inner circle that betrays much more that is ridiculous about the ruling party’s thinking. Take Khawajas Asif and Saad Rafique, for example, and their crude rubbing-it-in over the Musharraf issue. Fine time to up the ante, especially when the army top brass has broken its long kept – and pretty dignified going by its history – silence, and hinted insults will not be tolerated. How smart will they look if the Supreme Court lets the former supremo off the hook? Musharraf would have gone, but institutional friction will remain. Will their gung-ho preference continue or is that their break off point, when they go for a calmer approach?

But what makes then think the heavy mandate allows them multiple runs within the single run? With the insurgency outsmarting them, the economy in shambles, and now the army estranged, the ruling party is not exactly exhibiting a well thought out priority list by going out of its way to encourage confrontation between state institutions.

The government is reminded that its primary responsibility is protecting the country, against enemies foreign and local, and safeguarding the economy, the life and blood of the masses. If its solutions so far have been off the mark, it must realise its mistakes, and begin corrective measures immediately. Failing that, it will have no one but its most vocal pundits to blame for the political breakdown that awaits Pakistan.