Over-reliance on administrative measures

Hurting the common man

In the PML-N’s personalised style of governance there is an increasing reliance on bureaucracy, crucial decisions are delayed and the government is short of options whenever there is an emergency. In a democracy, the prime minister shares power with cabinet ministers inducted on the basis of their experience or expertise. He takes major issues to parliament where policy decisions are taken through debate and discussion. Whenever there is an emergency the matter is discussed in the cabinet and the problem shared with allies and even the opposition. The government is thus never short of alternatives. Whenever a situation takes a new turn the government faces it with confidence without getting panicky.

The PML-N government does not tackle problems through normal means available in a democratic polity. These include consultations with stake holders and resolution of conflicts through give and take. Instead of resolving things politically, the government has frequently gone for administrative remedies which create problems for the general public and cause unrest. The June 17 police firing in Model Town, the diversion of the Emirates flight carrying Tahirul Qadri to Lahore and the way PTI and PAT protesters were treated are the most recent examples. In all these cases the government took a rigid position, refused to enter into talks to find a middle way and went for administrative remedies like blocking the entire province with containers and concertina wires and suspension of cellular services in several cities.

Some of the PML-N critics maintain that arrogance stops the party leadership from holding parleys with opponents or withdrawing from its untenable positions. Others maintain that the party runs the country like a family enterprise where decisions are taken in a small kitchen cabinet. It is time the government reviewed its style of governance which continues to generate crisis after crisis while it makes the life of common man miserable. The ruling party has to realise that it would be difficult for it to complete its tenure through reliance on bureaucracy alone.