It will take more than speeches to resolve this
While exercising India’s Right of Reply to PM Nawaz’s UNGA address, India’s First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism.
Domestic affairs are steering Pakistan’s ship towards the storm and foreign relations with neighbouring countries are rocking the boat externally.
Leading opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again announced to hold a rally against the ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) over corruption charges.
On one hand, the govt continues to prolong confrontation on the issue of Panama papers revelations, while on the other, PTI continues to make failed attempts at derailing the Sharif rule.
Pakistan’s foreign policy has led to bitter relations with its neighbouring countries. India, Afghanistan and Iran have been accused of isolating Pakistan.
Furthermore, fragile domestic security, minimal economic growth, and the current political situation are some of the factors that contribute to destabilisation in Pakistan.
Recently, Two US lawmakers and ‘renowned Indian lobbyists’ moved a bill to designate Pakistan as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism.’
“Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years. From harbouring Osama bin Laden to its cosy relationship with the Haqqani network, there is more than enough evidence to determine whose side Pakistan is on in the war on terror. And it’s not America’s,” said one of the US lawmakers in a statement.
The move came after an attack on the Uri military camp in India and amid the rising tensions in Indian-held Kashmir.
India reflexively blamed Pakistan for being responsible for the attack and launched verbal attacks, claiming Pakistan supports and funds terrorism.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the United Nations General Assembly and highlighted the atrocities committed by Indian occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
While exercising India’s Right of Reply to PM Nawaz’s UNGA address, India’s First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism.
“The worst violation of human rights is terrorism,” she said. “When practised as an instrument of state policy, it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan’s long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region,” she alleged.
Despite the ongoing tensions that have occupied the country internally and externally, the opposition parties continue to demand accountability from PM Nawaz over allegations against him for money laundering, tax evasions and hiding wealth abroad.
It is the responsibility of the strongest opposition party to consider the tumultuous situation that has occupied Pakistan’s internal and external affair and prioritise the country’s stability and security.
“PTI wants to eliminate corruption from the country at all levels, starting from the government,” said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Opposition Leader, Mehmood Ur Rasheed while talking to DNA.
Crisis and tensions related to political activities are part of the routine for the state; therefore, PTI’s demand to launch a mass movement against the government should not be stopped due to the current situation affecting relations with India, said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira while talking to DNA.
“These challenges require better governance,” said Kaira. Internal matters must not be ignored as a result of a failure in maintaining diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries, Kaira added.
PTI’s move to take the matter to the streets has already been criticised as being undemocratic and unconstitutional.
However, the party’s demand to investigate into the offshore assets owned by the prime minister has been neglected by the government.
The question arises whether PTI should call off the rally in light of the current ‘warlike’ situation with India or should the opposition exert more pressure on the government to resolve the matter soon by initiating a probe into Panama Leaks.
“Leading the national situation of the country and dealing with the foreign relations with India is really done by the army,” said political analyst, Ayaz Amir.
Therefore, PTI’s agitation against the ruling party is not anti-patriotic or illegal, Amir added.
“If the government believes that there is a crisis, then they should try to resolve the disagreements with the opposition to reduce the tensions in the country, said Kaira while talking to DNA.
The opposition should agree to settle with PML-N’s ToRs and initiate a probe into the foreign and domestic assets owned by members of the Sharif family named in Panama Papers.
Nawaz Sharif will inadvertently be exposed during the investigation by association with the offshore assets owned by his children as the probe will indicate the sources that facilitated the acquisition of these offshore companies.
PTI has conducted several movements on the streets but has failed to find a successful outcome.
Peace and harmony among the political units of the country is the need of the hour.
Pakistan, for its own sake, needs to alter the world’s perception that has tarnished its image after allegations, stating that it shields militants and promotes terrorism.
It is the responsibility of the strongest opposition party to consider the tumultuous situation that has occupied Pakistan’s internal and external affair and prioritise the country’s stability and security.