EDITORIAL BOARD
There is a pattern with Pakistani politics that despite the obvious benefits of democracy, some segments including those genuinely frustrated with economic deprivation, and a typical class of politicians – motivated by self-interest- show impatience with elected governments.
There is a pattern with Nawaz Sharif that despite enjoying “historic” mandates and goodwill, he has always found his government insecure and vulnerable – due inherently to his longstanding reliance on closeted style of governance and exclusionary style of politics.
Both are self-defeating and on display during the ongoing crisis and the timing could not have been more ominous for both the country’s economy and security.
While Prime Minister Sharif has constitutional right to complete his term, he is also answerable to his people. In his third term as prime minister, he should have shown a commitment to democracy and good governance.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf of Imran Khan, on the other hand, has a democratic right to protest but it cannot hold the entire nation hostage to demonstrations.
As per latest reports, both Sharif and Khan are sticking to their guns.
Khan is bent on pressuring Sharif to exit the scene and present himself in a court of law for his nebulous offshore accounts – revealed by Panama Papers.
Prime Minister Sharif is determined not to let Khan and his followers reach Islamabad and hold the capital under siege with prolonged demonstrations.
Those justifying the Sharif government’s rather stern and repressive crackdown against political dissent argue that the PTI’s months-long protests in Islamabad in 2014 had badly damaged Pakistan’s economic prospects with consequences that included a delay in launch of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects.
Khan and his backers argue that Sharif has refused to let the courts decide on serious allegations of corruption against him and has blunted all legal and constitutional avenues that could decide the allegations in a fair manner – and hence a rationale for their full-throttle call to pressure him.
In the past, Sharif’s inability to show leadership during crises – be it with other power players like the presidency or the military establishment – cost him dearly including dismissals of his governments and one exile.
Meanwhile, Sharif’s relations with the military suffered another setback this month when a news story in English language daily Dawn reported his differences with the military leadership on counterterrorism approach.
Thee prime minister has replaced his information minister to ratchet down the issue but there is no clear indication of improvement in the relations.
Some analysts see eerie similarities between the current environment and the past situations, which led to military inventions.
Even a thought of return to military rule would be painfully precarious for Pakistani economy, its polity and standing in the comity of nations.
After years of sufferings and struggle, Pakistan has an opportunity to stamp out terrorism with sustained focus along the Afghan border, and with implementation of National Action Plan elsewhere in the country.
Economically, the CPEC promises to stimulate growth across various areas of the economy since it involves tremendous construction work. The CPEC also has bolstered Pakistan’s regional importance at a time when Narendra Modi’s New Delhi is recklessly attempting to undercut Islamabad at regional and international forums, and has adopted an aggressive posture to confuse international opinion on the Kashmir unrest.
Sharif has some economic strides to his credit under his rule like progress on the CPEC projects, macroeconomic improvements and conclusion of the IMF program.
But these achievements can fizzle out very quickly.Already, Karachi Stock Exchange has lost around 1500 points as fears of instability unnerve investors.
Imran Khan, on the other hand, has also much to lose. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, that Khan’s party has ruled with some progress in key areas of governance like health, education and law enforcement reforms, would also likely suffer reversals because of instability.
Secondly, his politics of agitation would further harm Khan’s image, if it ends up damaging Pakistani economy and results in political instability.
The way out lies in Nawaz Sharif presenting himself for accountability since, as stated by IMF, transparency is the way forward, and for Imran Khan not to go overboard with his democratic right to protest.
Nawaz Sharif has ample constitutional and legal options to bring the country back from the edge of instability, and Imran Khan still has ample scope to try his prospects at the next ballot in 2018.
Democracy must not suffer any reversal under any circumstance, as it is one of the key factors uniting the multi-ethnic nation.
