Only political parties to blame
While the mysterious entry of Afzal Khan in the ongoing high drama gives it a new turn, the PML-N leadership appears not to have paid adequate attention to Zardari’s advice about resolving the crisis through talks. Instead the government decided to hold PML-N rallies which would only intensify the conflict.
The charges of massive rigging during the May 2013 election levelled by former Additional Secretary of Election Commission would strengthen Imran Khan’s case provided these turned out to be true. One wonders why Afzal Khan kept mum over the alleged irregularities when these were taking place. He was morally bound to do his bit to stop them. Failing in this he could have resigned in protest and gone public as he did on Sunday. Why did the retired official keep the secret to himself for fourteen months? He has accused the former CEC Fakhruddin G Ibrahim of acquiescence, Member Election Commission Riaz Kayani of being mainly responsible for the irregularities, and two former CJs of involvement in them. These are no ordinary charges. What is needed is for the EC to make its position clear on the issue. It would be highly appropriate to hold a judicial enquiry into the accusations.
It is of crucial importance for the government to negotiate its way out of the crisis. This can be done only through talks on which the government has failed to focus. It sent no high level team to hold dialogue with the PAT which Qadri claimed was promised by Saad Rafiq on Sunday. The PAT chief’s address on Sunday had created hopes that differences might still be resolved through give and take. As talks did not take place a desperate Qadri gave the Prime Minister 48 hours to tender his resignation and dissolve the assemblies. Citing Afzal Khan’s ‘revelations’ Imran Khan maintained there was no justification for the Prime Minister to remain in power and declared the sit-in would continue till Sharif resigned. If democracy suffers, political parties’ failure to see the dangers ahead would be a major cause.
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