The PML-N has come out strong against the antics of the present government with Mian Nawaz Sharif, its Quaid, referring to the present Prime Ministers performance as hopeless. He regretted that despite the restoration of democracy, the PPP government had failed to meet expectations and everywhere corrupt elements were gaining positions. At the same time, Chaudhry Nisar, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, also hit hard at the performance of the government demanding that it mend its ways. While these critiques of the government are more than justified, a large part of the blame rests with the PML-N which, as the main opposition party has failed to play its role within parliament and outside. Mere statements are never enough and parliament provides for an effective accountability process of the government through its various committees if these function efficiently and forcefully. This has not been happening and, beyond the rhetoric, the work of the committees has been uneven and sketchy. The Public Accounts Committee has taken up many issues of wrongdoing and corruption but concrete action is still awaited. Also, the message coming from the main opposition, the PML-N has often been confused with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly seeming to be on one page and the Quaid of the Party on another in terms of the line adopted towards the government. In that context, the statements on Thursday by the two were welcome in that they gave out an unambiguous message on the governments performance and the oppositions perceptions. However, another reason why the PPP government has found the space to get away with its misgovernance is the divisions that continue to afflict the Muslim Leagues. Pir Pagaros efforts to unite all the Leagues has had little success as the MML that has been formed has little credibility without the 'Q and 'N factions of the League in it. This has been admitted by the Convener of the MML himself, Mir Zafarullah Jamali who has said the future of his party is bleak without the 'Q and 'N factions of the League. The disunity of the Leagues is also allowing the factions to be pitted one against the other, especially by the PPP. In some ways the PML-N, which is the main League faction is losing ground to 'Q which is being courted both by the PPP and by 'N itself. All these political flirtations undermine the ability of the opposition to play an effective role in controlling the government and holding it accountable not merely in words but also by deeds. Therefore, there is a need, in the national interest, for all the Muslim League factions to unite and effectively hold the PPP accountable. At present, the government, by default if not by design, is handing over governance to the US, and control of the national economy to the IMF and World Bank through its surrogate financial managers who are setting about destroying Pakistans agriculture and industry. And there is no effective opposition to question or provide alternative policy options.