Handling it like the N league handles things
The India situation might have spiraled out of the government’s control due to exogenous factors, but much else about the handling of its preferred policies has left much to be desired. The Taliban issue went back and forth till the military, it is reported, finally put its foot down after the Karachi Airport incident. And the less said about the big gap between promises and actions on the power front the better. But even with its privatisation drive there are recurring problems, not just related to political and provincial politics, but also inept handling of the fallout, particularly by the interior minister.
It is little surprise that calls for Ch Nisar’s resignation did the rounds in the Senate following the brutal crackdown on protesting OGDC employees in Islamabad. For one thing, why the panic? If thousands of PTI and PAT workers can camp in the red zone for months, what is the problem with a miniscule number (comparatively) on a one day outing? For another, since OGDC has been turning in profits, far more serious questions must be answered. What is the rationale for privatisation? Shouldn’t state enterprises hemorrhaging billions annually be higher on the priority list? And why keep opposition and provincial governments in the dark? Shouldn’t marketing the family silver be a more consultative exercise, especially when the government has just relied on opposition parties to stay in power?
Ch Aitzaz’s warning deserves serious attention. The PPP will not take long to ditch the government if it does not mend its ways. And going by the N league’s inability to learn, and the PPP’s necessity of resurrecting in Punjab, a confrontation may well be in the offing, and not in too distant the future. The privatisation policy needs clarity, not only among political parties but also between the federal and provincial governments. Haji Adeel of ANP had a point that the privatisation of OGDC was not a straight forward matter despite court orders because three smaller provinces remained opposed to it. If such irregularities are not removed, the ruling party should be ready for more criticism, from within also, like their old hand M. Hamza agreeing with the opposition and condemning both the police action and OGDC privatisation.
