A government out of ideas, caught in a stand off against a seemingly uncompromising coalition of opponents, is resulting in a constant state of uncertainty and instability for Pakistan. Issues of governance and economy have taken a back seat to political tussles and theatrics. Having survived the initial onslaught, the government has failed to capitalise and create a breakthrough as the episode lingers on. Everyone is talking about everything all the time while practically doing nothing about anything. There are government’s promises and PTI’s promises, being thrown at people through their TV screens, absent any context, real debate or accountability. Such an environment may have been acceptable in days leading to a general election, but since this is happening only after a year and a half into the government’s tenure, it will be considerably more difficult for it to focus and perform. Not that it actually needs the PTI or the PAT to ruin its plans. There has been no meaningful structural reform in any of the major sectors of the economy or administration, the energy crisis remains unresolved and the style of governance is mostly lamentable. There are also reports highlighting the highhandedness of the police as they continue to arrest innocent people from checkpoints and elsewhere. The government doesn’t seem to be able to comprehend its own position. It is being challenged by entities which claim to be outsiders and promise to do away with the ‘ugly’ status quo. In this context or contest, the government is representing democracy. It will have to live up to democratic principles and alter its conduct in order to make a good case before the masses.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has abandoned its so called sit-in in Islamabad to hold protest rallies in major cities in an attempt to mobilise its support base and keep the government under pressure. It has successfully held two big rallies in Karachi and Lahore, and plans have been announced to take the show to Mianwali and Multan next. Mr Imran Khan is not showing any signs of returning to a saner state. He remains insistent on sending the government home over allegations of rigging yet to be proven in a court of law. From threatening police officers, forcibly freeing detained party workers to burning electricity bills and accusing everyone of conspiring against him – he has done it all. There was never much hope from Mr Tahir-ul-Qadri to begin with. He continues to resurface from his container to sell dreams and deceive followers while waiting for the umpire to raise the finger. Despite their efforts, both the PTI and the PAT have failed to ‘unite the working classes against the elite’ to bring a revolution, as they pontificate. For how much longer will they continue to pretend and clash before calling it a day? The end seems nowhere yet in sight.