Time to refocus
Once again PTI makes the news for odd reasons. It took them a while to decide on returning salaries for the period that the dharna kept them away from the national assembly. But finally that episode is behind us, even though Chairman Imran Khan still believes 2015 will be the year of elections. The recent ‘influx’ of PPP turncoats has also raised questions. How new will naya Pakistan be if it is to be run by the same old players; people Imran once accused of ‘benefiting from the status quo’?
Then there is the case of KP NAB arresting the mines and minerals minister, Ziaullah Afridi. He was one of the party’s better performers. Imran, even when asking for his resignation, did say that he “has put in a lot of work for the PTI and I was very disappointed after learning about his arrest…” Still, the party chose to wait for him to resign than send him packing immediately. And, though Imran focused more on KP NAB’s transparency and integrity, charges like ‘non-transparent leasing of contracts’ and ‘illegal recruitment and transfers’ ring, again, more of the hollow old Pakistan than the clean new one Khan sb has been promising all these years.
Unfortunately, while the party is always prominent in the news for one reason or the other, it is not often because of its contribution to parliamentary politics. In all the years it has been active in politics, it has always postured as the most ‘democratic’ party, yet never indulged in progressive politics. True, it has made the justice machinery in KP more transparent than its counterparts, but as a truly national party its priorities leave a little something to be desired. Perhaps the leadership should consider reviewing its core policy, and adjusting strategy and tactics accordingly.
The nation believes PTI is moving in the right direction although not yet emerged as credible political alternative but not very far from emerging as one .It needs to play more active and vibrant role in Parliament and devote it’s reform agendas in KPK to allow people to see the change themselves as the general public is now more socially and politically observant and aware than was the case in eighties and nineties.
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