A test of its political acumen
The PTI is reaping what it has sown. For 126 days Imran Khan ranted against the PML-N leadership in a tone and tenor unprecedented in the political history of the country. Khan also made a profuse use of offensive vocabulary against the leaders of the PPP, ANP, PkMAP, JUI-F and whosoever dared to advise him to moderate his stance. It is time he stopped to pontificate. What could in fact add to the animus is the continuation of a ‘holier than thou’ attitude which is reflected in remarks like ‘Nawaz should apologise for forcing us to initiate the sit-in’.
What is needed on the part of the PTI and its opponents is to leave the past behind in the interests of the system. It’s time both sides learnt to act in a more responsible way. The PML-N leadership has to abandon its traditional arrogance that has not only characterised its attitude towards the opposition but also its own parliamentarians. A perception has been formed that Sharifs display humility only when they see power slipping out of their hands and find themselves isolated and friendless. Once out of the bad patch, the hubris returns in no time. The PTI, on the other hand, will have to get rid of the sanctimoniousness which has become the hallmark of not only its leadership but its entire rank and file, amply displayed by its members and sympathisers in their social media remarks.
The demand to cancel the membership of the PTI’s parliamentarians on the basis of their absence from the National Assembly during the sit-in has no sense, all the more so when the demand is made by the PML-N legislators. The Speaker had refused to take action against the absentee MNAs and had subsequently ordered the release of their salaries. The resolution of the dispute has paved way for the smooth functioning of the system. It is irrational to demand the holding of fresh elections in 33 constituencies at a time when hopes have been generated about peace and stability.