PML-N can’t afford to dismiss the PPP’s demands
The four demands put up by the PPP are by no means unusual. The one seeking the appointment of a permanent Foreign Minister has been raised by almost allpolitical parties and supported by a large section of the media. The secrecy maintained by the government over the CPEC and the lack of transparency about the way a highly vital national project is being implemented has given birth to an unnecessary controversy. There is a danger of the dispute harming vital national interests. While there can be two opinions about the formation of a parliamentary committee on national security and about endorsing the PPP drafted bill on the Panama leaks probe, it would be unwise to refuse to sort out the differences. The PPP has announced that if its demands are not accepted by December 27 it would hold protest marches to confront the government. Meanwhile, it has announced a committee to suggest ways and means to the government for implementing the four demands.
The Finance Minister complains that the PTI’s protest marches and sit-ins have caused the loss of billions of rupees to the economy. The Interior Ministry maintains that a 10-day deployment of police and paramilitary troops to ensure security during the PTI’s latest protest in Islamabad alone cost the government a hefty sum of Rs 400 m. Repeated political agitations in fact cause even greater harm as they create a perception of uncertainty in the country which discourages foreign investors who then look for other countries which are safer for investments. Conflict resolution remains a better option for the countryrather than a policy of confrontations.
With PPP enjoying majority in the Senate there is all the more a need to enter into talks with it instead of unleashing the PML-N’s short sighted hardliners who can further ratchet up the political temperature. The government should appoint a committee comprising flexible PML-N leaders while the PPP leadership too should come to the negotiation table with a spirit of accommodation.