Waiting on the PM
Nawaz Sharif has returned. He has reiterated the resolve to continue his development agenda despite the threats of agitation. The agenda cannot be implemented till the plethora of issues awaiting the PM’s arrival is simultaneously dealt with. What is more there is a need for peace and stability to deal with the multifarious challenges that face the country.
Call it ineptitude, indecisiveness or simply cautiousness; government functionaries have postponed taking vital decisions till the Prime Minister’s return. Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra told a tribal jirga on Sunday that despite a committee having prepared recommendations on enforcing Nizam-e-Adl in Fata , only the PM can take the final decision. The interior minister has expressed annoyance over of release of videos carrying confessional statements of those in custody but has hesitated to take any action. The relations with Afghanistan have further deteriorated because none in the political administration could suggest remedial measures to the FO. In view of the persisting tension between India and Pakistan only a breakthrough at the level the two PMs can save the SAARC summit scheduled for November. A decision regarding the next COAS can only be taken by the PM. There was none in the PML-N with sufficient clout to resolve the prevailing differences within the party and the matter was postponed for Nawaz Sharif to resolve. The election campaign in AJK is becoming nastier day by day with reports of more violence but there is none with an authoritative voice to mediate in order to keep the campaign peaceful.
The most immediate issue is to engage the opposition so that there is peace in the country allowing the PM to clear the backlog of crucial issues. To put an end to the deadlock the government has to display flexibility. Nawaz Sharif’s arrival has generated a hope that the suspended talks on ToRs would be restarted. It remains to be seen if Pervez Rashid’s and Ishaq Dar’s remarks would restart the suspended talks on ToRs. What is more will it be no more a dialogue of the deaf?
