The PML-N is taking matters of governance lightly
It matters little whether Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri march on Islamabad hand in hand or put up separate shows of strength. Keeping in view the government’s less than cordial relations with the army, in both cases they can push the system further towards the abyss. Those who maintain that democracy gives everyone the right to protest forget that the march on Islamabad is not a run-of-the-mill political procession which is promptly dispersed by the organisers after delivering fiery speeches. Imran Khan has already called the march a final and decisive battle to root out the corrupt and usher in a fair system. The PTI is determined to hold a sit-in after the march which it says will continue till the acceptance of its demands. Wild card Altaf Hussain has meanwhile called upon Nawaz Sharif to step down.
As far as Qadri is concerned, he has no representation in any legislature and little stake in the system. He can undertake any irresponsible act in pursuit of his dubious ‘revolutionary’ agenda. So can his political allies, whose presence in Parliament being insignificant, are invariably looking for someone who could catapult them into power through a feat of political engineering. Imran Khan has to realise that any elections held before an agreement in Parliament on electoral reforms would have to be conducted by the present controversial Election Commission.
The situation the PML-N faces would not have arisen if Imran Khan’s grievances had been taken seriously and resolved promptly. For full one year the PML-N leadership bathed in the glory of its mandate caring tuppence for Imran Khan’s complaints or opposition parties’ suggestions while it gave cavalier treatment to National Assembly and Senate. Instead of being panic stricken the PML-N leadership should urgently aim at reaching an agreement with Imran Khan so that he has no need to hold the sit-in. It should particularly assure him that the much delayed task of formulating electoral reforms would henceforth be taken up with the seriousness it deserves.