Islamabad under pressure

And a PM full of clichés

How typical of the prime minister to claim winning the war a day after one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in our history. And he didn’t forget his usual rhetoric, either, about ‘fighting the fight to the last terrorist’, etc, even as the death count from Lahore mounted. Of course he had a lot more on his plate, especially with Islamabad choked and the police unable to control a frenzied mullah protest rampaging across the city. It’s not every day, after all, that the 111-Brigade is invoked to defend the capital. Usually democracy is under grave threat when such mobilisation takes place.

Yet despite being caught off guard in Islamabad the government did little to improve its own position. Interior minister Ch Nisar, usually very sensitive about his turf, took a day to hold a couple of his serious meetings about the security of the capital. And the prime minister, after taking his sweet time after the attack to address the nation, chose his usual clichés instead of a quantifiable, point-by-point breakdown of the plans ahead. He also acted as if there was nothing out of the ordinary about the military apprehending protestors in the red zone.

The last two days have exposed glaring weaknesses in the PML-N, both in Punjab and at the centre. It is little surprise, in hindsight, that the military had to take control of both situations. And it says a lot that both Sharifs were far from the scene just when bold and courageous leadership was needed. With time, people have come to expect little from the democratically elected leaders than empty rhetoric and hollow promises. And, unfortunately, the politicians have only themselves to blame. Yet again, even in the face of tragedy and breakdown, the leadership could do little except repeat what it always says; all will be well soon enough.