Governance during PM’s absence

Tough times ahead?

The working of the PML-N government revolves around Nawaz Sharif. In his capacity as the party chief and prime minister he has been taking every major decision himself. Both the party and the government being totally dependent on Sharif they have delayed vital decisions during his absence for nearly six weeks. Problems have therefore multiplied and exacerbated during the period, all the more so because besides being the prime minister he also holds the foreign affairs portfolio. After Nawaz Sharif returns from London he will have to clear the mess created during his absence.

Relations with Afghanistan have soured further. Border guards from Pakistan and Afghanistan have drawn blood. The way the Afghan refugees have been pushed around, especially in KP, has further added to differences and led to recriminations. Keeping in view the prolonged tension with India, one is yet not sure if the SAARC summit is going to be held as scheduled in Pakistan. There were complaints from Iran early this week of four Iranian border guards having been killed near the Iran-Pakistan border.

The internal situation is equally worrisome. There is no respite to the confrontation between the PML-N and the opposition. With PML-N members of the ToRs committee vying with one another to prove their loyalty to the party chief, the inflexibility on their part has led to a deadlock in the talks. The PTI and PPP have now filed petitions in the ECP seeking Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification. Imran Khan, on the other hand, continues to talk about launching street protests after Eid

Meanwhile differences within the PML-N have sharpened over time both between some of the top leaders and between the leadership and PML-N parliamentarians. Nawaz Sharif will have a tough time settling the matters that would be on his table when he returns. Only time will show whether he has the required energy and stamina to work overtime to deal with the complicated problems that face him.