And the senseless call for early polls
On Thursday the federal cabinet reposed trust in Nawaz Sharif. On Friday the parliamentary party resolved to put its weight behind its leader. Meanwhile chiefs of allied parties like JUIF’s Fazl Ur Rehman and PKMAP’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai have addressed the media reiterating their support for the beleaguered Prime Minister. Dismissing the calls for stepping down, Nawaz Sharif has announced he is not going to resign.
The JIT report contains enough evidence which if proved true could lead to the disqualification of the Prime Minister and more. This has encouraged the opposition to demand that Nawaz Sharif resign immediately. Going a step further the PTI has called for fresh elections. Those demanding resignation can argue Sharif continues to use his official position to influence the outcome of the probe. He has allowed the chairman SECP to retain his office despite record tampering having been proved and an FIR duly registered against him. Sharif is reportedly now contacting his UAE counterpart presumably to seek the withdrawal of the documents issued by the Gulf state officials that show the Prime Minister was chairman of the Board for Capital FZE up to April 20, 2014 drawing a salary of 10,000 dirhams. Had Sharif voluntarily resigned, nominating another PML-N legislator in his place, he would have set a good tradition and brought down political temperature.
The idea of fresh elections is however utterly unreasonable. After the completion of full tenure by the PPP and a peaceful transition of power in 2013, many had expected that the precedent would be adhered to, strengthening democracy and imparting stability to the system. The Panama case has put Nawaz Sharif in the dock rather than his government. The ruling party has every right to remain in power till the next election due after eight months. Early polls imply premature and irrational dismissal of the National Assembly. What is more electoral reforms have yet to be finalised and enacted, political parties need time to make preparations and the election commission has to make necessary arrangements which will take several months.