The good, the bad, and the ugly

What the JC’s report has brought in the open

It’s good that Imran Khan has accepted the Judicial Commission’s decision. It’s bad that he still maintains a self-righteous posture. Things could turn ugly in case he once again reverts to the agitation mode.

While one welcomes the promise that PTI would form a strong opposition in the National Assembly, Imran Khan and his legislators have to give proper respect to the institution which they had debunked as “fake”. Equally important on the PTI’s part is to learn to speak parliamentary language and to argue their case instead of extending threats and passing offensive remarks. The PTI leaders have to realise the importance of compromise and give and take in parliamentary politics.

Despite the commission’s clear verdict that the party has failed to prove the three charges it had levelled in its plea against 2013 elections, Khan maintains the court has conceded his stand regarding rigging. This is pure jugglery. There was never any doubt that rigging might have taken place in some constituencies. What the PTI maintained, and the commission rejected, was that there was systematic rigging with an aim to keep PTI out of power. Equally ludicrous is the demand that Nawaz Sharif rather than Imran Khan should apologise for the sit-ins. This shows the PTI chief is still unwilling to concede that he can be wrong.

The PTI’s agitation spread over 126 days has weakened the system and caused the civil-military balance to tilt in favour of the latter, belying the expectations roused by peaceful transfer of power after 2013 elections. The PTI needs to compensate for this by repressing its tendency to take recourse to street agitation instead of taking issues to parliament. Only thus can it hope to retrieve some of the ground it has lost.

The inquiry commission’s report has raised questions about the ECP’s ability to hold transparent elections. It is time its four members realised its implications and resigned rather than be accused for mishandling the forthcoming local government polls in Punjab and Sindh.