Still no transformation in the PM
Politicians in Pakistan are exceptionally slow at learning, more so in the case of the PML-N leaders. Whatever change seemed to have taken place while passing through hard times was hardly skin deep. The moment the danger of army intervention began to recede, the tone of the more abrasive among the federal ministers started to change. One of them made it known that if the negotiations between the government and the PTI failed, the former had no intention to implement the five points over which consensus has already been reached. When the opposition jirga made public its formula for a patch up between the government and the PTI and PAT leaders, the government resented the move maintaining that the group had transcended its mandate which was no more than opening a dialogue between the two sides. The proposal by PPP Senator Raza Rabbani regarding the constitution of a permanent parliamentary committee on national security was sidelined.
Some had hoped for a transformation in the prime minister. They expected that soon after his return from New York where he had gone to address the UN General Assembly, he would act with a sense of urgency. He would reshuffle the cabinet, make the electoral reforms committee move apace and start consultations with parliamentary leaders for a consensus on required constitutional amendments. The government would also hasten the process of consensus over the appointment of a permanent CEC. Now that the crisis is over, the PM seems to be in no haste to remove election related grievances that were behind the recent standoff.
This has led to a perception that after agreeing to share space with the army the PML-N leadership is determined to continue as before. There is a need to realise, however, that a neglect to create consensus on electoral reforms would again give birth to problems. Further that the government can sideline the National Assembly and Senate as before only at grave risks to itself and the system.
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