Finally completing a term in office?
The overall improved security situation in the country has been due to the military’s interventions through various counter terrorism operation across the country which the civilian government led by the PML-N had neither conceived nor approved
A week ago, the PML-N government presented its fourth budget, first time in the party’s political history. The party’s previous two stints in the government were cut short under three years by the military’s direct or indirect intervention.
Although the PML-N’s governance in the last three years has been as dismal and inefficient as the previous two times in the government, the party has been a direct beneficiary of various domestic and international developments that perhaps were instrumental in rescuing Nawaz Sharif’s crumbling regime. From beginning the regime with a heavy political mandate and promises to make history by holding the former dictator accountable, Sharif’s government has come down to political calculations for survival with having failed in both of the abovementioned objectives.
The overall improved security situation in the country has been due to the military’s interventions through various counter terrorism operation across the country which the civilian government led by the PML-N had neither conceived nor approved. The TTP’s attack at Karachi air port two years ago triggered a unilateral response from the military. The military’s unilateral response was not supported by the PML-N government’s who was interested in the idea of reconciliation with the Taliban despite the fact that the terror group had refused to follow the constitution or the state’s writ.
The PML-N’s government, for reasons related to backlash from militant groups which could hurt its political interests, had refused to offer necessary political cover to the military operation; Sharif’s government only fell in line after it realised the gravity of the situation and the military willingness to carry the operation forward – having enlisted Sharif’s support or without it. The prime minister’s younger brother is even known to have requested terrorist groups to spare Punjab at the cost of other smaller provinces.
The National Action Plan, a 20-point counter terrorism strategy to fight terrorism, was only formulated after the military forced the political stakeholders into consensus. The PML-N’s provincial government in Punjab was even against the military operation in the province. The NAP’s implementation on civilian part has by and large failed: to begin with, the government has not been able to successfully carry out the Madrassas’sregistration.
On the other hand, the national economic growth reflects the same sorry state. The government, by and large, has failed to meet its set GDP growth targets in the last three years. The PML-N’s unnecessary and interventionist polices to support some economic sectors at the cost of other – such as the agriculture – has not only threatened the livelihood of more than 35 percent of the Pakistani pupation but has also arrested the development of national economic growth. “The anemic progress in agriculture is in line with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s historical record of ignoring the sector that employs close to 37 percent of the labour force,” reported The Express Tribune.
India’s growing closeness with Iran and Afghanistan has virtually isolated Pakistan from regional diplomacy. Beyond the Asian region, India’s successful lobbying in Washington and other strategic quarters has considerably hurt Pakistan’s image and interests
A think tank based in Islamabad has even refuted the government’s claims of achieving 4.7 percent GDP growth during the outgoing fiscal year. The Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC) claims that last year’s economic growth stood at 3.1 percent rather than 4.7 percent: “GDP growth rate is 3.1pc, not 4.7pc” in fiscal year 2015-16,” said the institute.
Lingering disputes over the western route of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); the government’s refusal to address provincial concerns regarding the NFC awards; and ad hoc base policy interventions do not offer a promising economic future for Pakistan. The government has failed to bring any substantial comprehensive reforms in any major sector: a relative better economic growth which the government has been too eager to take credit for has been the result of a direct foreign investment through Chinese infrastructure projects and improved security situation in the country which is hardly the effect of Nawaz Sharif’s vision.
Regionally, Pakistan has been increasingly isolated due to the government weak diplomatic maneuvering. Although Sharif has little say over the strategic foreign policy matters, a non-exiting diplomatic front and failed lobbying efforts to extend Pakistan’s interests in relevant capitals have further compounded the problem. In the case of Mullah Mansour’s recent death, the government was unable to promptly respond to the situation despite the fact the incident took place on Pakistan’s soil and had direct bearings on the country’s national interests.
India’s growing closeness with Iran and Afghanistan has virtually isolated Pakistan from regional diplomacy. Beyond the Asian region, India’s successful lobbying in Washington and other strategic quarters has considerably hurt Pakistan’s image and interests: the latest case being the US’s refusal to subsidise the F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan; and its support for India’s bid for the membership of Nuclear Supplier’s Group (NSG).
Nawaz Sharif may complete his first five years in government but the legacy he is likely to leave will only tell the tale of an ordinary politician.