- Government appears overwhelmed as problems multiply
The overall scene as the PML-N’s ineffectual third attempt at good governance enters its last lap is one of utter confusion, universal uncertainty, and an intense feeling of lurking dangers threatening the government and the existing system itself. High on the list of reasons for this sorry state of affairs must come the ruler’s trademark indecision and failure to resolve issues, timely and flexibly, in consultation with Parliament. The disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and its confusing ongoing political fallout, presence of two prime ministers, one refusing to accept the judicial verdict, the other reluctant to don the thorny mantle, habitual absence of ministers and backbenchers from the two Houses, ego-driven personal vendettas and avoidance of debates and decisions within Parliament, are other reasons for the present perturbing political impasse.
Four immediate issues haunt the government, lack of progress on the Delimitation Law which impinges directly on the holding of 2018 election, delay in emotionally charged FATA-KP merger, fiery Allama Tahir-ul-Qadri’s increasing demands and renewed threats of sit-in over the Model Town incident stalemate, flanked this time by PTI and PPP and possibly the Jamaat-i-Islami, a formidable combination, and last but not least, the outpourings of the influential Maulana Sialvi, who seems hell-bent on taking the Punjab law minister’s scalp for public comments made by him during the recent Blasphemy Bill controversy that had also resulted in the federal law minister’s resignation.
Add to this the foot-in-mouth and doublespeak diseases afflicting most of our top leaders of all parties, who specialise in making the wildest claims about their electoral prospects which go against all ground realities, and these ailments have turned into a veritable epidemic in the PML-N nowadays. Their partisan national assembly speaker makes an airy-fairy statement about Assemblies not completing their term, and the de facto PM endorses this view, the de jure PM disagrees, maintaining all is well, the foreign minister interprets it according to his own lights, while the leader of the opposition hints darkly at a conspiracy by invisible interests to force early elections. A witches’ brew indeed, and unified firm leadership sadly lacking.
