An untimely visit

Where do the PM’s priorities lie?

So many problems have landed on Nawaz Sharif’s table, making one wonder whether these would be allowing him enough time for sleep. To start with, there is the issue of the ongoing air attacks in North Waziristan, the Agency which had been spared an operation for years because of fear of deadly reprisals. There is a perception that the militants might any time launch terrorist attacks in major cities of the country. After the lifting of a three-day long curfew on certain areas of the Agency, some reports claim that about 30,000 tribesmen have entered Pakistan within a day while thousands more are on the way. The ground forces are now poised to launch an all-out operation inside the Agency. In view of the serious developments the COAS postponed his visit to Sri Lanka. Another serious issue is the worst ever police brutality in Lahore, resulting in the death of nine PAT activists. This has led to protests by the opposition, the legal community and civil society. The killings are likely to bring into existence a political front with the sole objective of the removal of the government which was hitherto facing difficulties.

While all these issues require the prime minister’s personal attention, he has surprisingly spent two days on a matter that had no urgency whatsoever. One fails to understand the need for Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Tajikistan at this juncture. Prime ministers normally do not travel abroad to sign minor trade agreements when facing serious problems at home. How is it that a job that could have been satisfactorily performed by the federal commerce minister was taken up by the chief executive of the country himself?

Failure on the part of the PM to concentrate on vital issues is creating a situation where things have started to fall apart. With the Afghan ambassador calling on the COAS instead of the foreign or defence secretary, a perception is bound to be created that the neighbouring country considers the civilian setup less credible.