- Is there a method in its madness?
Procedural due process was followed both in KP and Punjab for nominating caretaker provincial chiefs. The chief ministers of the two provinces agreed on the names after consulting leaders of the opposition in their respective assemblies. As a senior government official told media on Saturday, the agreement between CM Parvez Khattak and opposition leader Lutf-ur-Rehman was reached after several rounds of talks between the two on Friday leading to the announcement of Manzoor Afridi for the office on Saturday. K-P Education Minister Atif Khan also confirmed that Afridi’s name had been finalised after detailed discussion. According to PTI spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai and provincial law minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi the nomination also had Imran Khan’s blessing. On Monday Khan suddenly went back on the decision after “objections were raised by an opposition party”.
A similar about-turn in Punjab. CM Shahbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition Mahmoodur Rasheed announced Nasir Khosa’ name in a joint Press Conference. Earlier, both the chief minister and the opposition leader had tabled two names each for the post and agreed that they would consult their party leaders over a final name indicating that Imran Khan had subsequently consented to the nomination. Two days later on Wednesday the party withdrew the nomination. Rasheed said the decision was taken after a “general reaction” to the proposal to appoint Khosa on social and public media.
The about-turns have badly damaged the credibility of the PTI. They also raise a number of other serious questions. Does the party that vacillates when it comes to taking urgent decisions be entrusted with the running of the country? Can a leadership which is so easily influenced by TV talk shows, tickers running on the screen, and social media take unpopular decisions when required to do so in national interest? Should a political party follow the ill-informed or confused among the public who often fall victim to rumours or it should educate them? It appears that the U-turns were made on the orders of Imran Khan. If so, can Khan be a successful PM if he is to insist on micromanaging things? Or Khan was simply persuaded to interfere by someone inside or outside Banigala?
