A strategy that could backfire
The decision by the Sharif brothers to join the protest marches against load shedding is an act of political brinkmanship. The PML(N) needs to be reminded that by being in power in the largest province it has a vital stake in the system. How can civilian agencies maintain peace if they find the Chief Minister leading the stone pelting protestors? Is this not an unwitting invitation to the ultimate guarantors of law and order to step in? It would be highly irresponsible on the part of the opposition to make use of the situation to improve its electoral ratings.
A reckless lack of responsiveness to common man’s problems, mismanagement, delays in implementing parliamentary decisions and widespread corruption have no doubt added up to the troubles the government is currently facing. Depending on alliances, often of an opportunistic character, the government believed it could afford to ignore public resentment. It looked the other way as target killings in Karachi continued year after year. It remained oblivious to the plight of the rain-cum-flood affected Sindh till the situation went out of control. It declined to implement parliamentary decisions till the entire opposition joined hands to force it to form a parliamentary committee to ensure their enforcement. It did little to resolve the issue of circular debt till the entire country faced an unprecedented power crisis followed by lawlessness. Even now the government is unwilling to address the root cause by withdrawing subsidies and is instead seeking a short-lived relief by paying a meager amount of Rs 9 billion to PSO. It shielded corrupt government leaders and allies from independent probes, ignoring the orders from the SC or postponing their implementation. The storm that had gathered for over three years is now threatening to burst.
The interests of the nation need to be given primacy over party interests. The government must not postpone decisions needed to end the ongoing power crisis even if they bring down its popularity. The PML(N) on the other hand has to realise that overthrowing a government elected for five years through long marches would set a highly negative precedent.
