Mass resignation of MNA PTI, excluding for dissidents from the National Assembly is not surprising. This in symbol with former prime minister Imran Khan’s personal style of politics. Looks like he’d rather destroy system than accept humiliation of be expelled. Even democratic change is unacceptable to his ego. Retiring from the National Assembly, he seeks to destroy the entire building. Even in government, former prime minister never descended from his vessel.
Elections of Shahbaz Sharif as new prime minister gave an ironic touch to the checkered country politics. This is seen as a restoration. of old order after three-and-half-year experiment with “Naya Pakistan”. Main challenge for in new government is to ensure political stability in the country and curb the economic downturn. challenge requires tough measures to prevent economic collapse.
More importantly, Sharif government needs to work on weakening of the dominant polarization in the country. Transfer of power could put an end to the uncertainty engulfing the country for in past a few weeks, but the political crisis is still far away over. it will be extremely difficult for a coalition made up of disparate political parties with various political programs to deliver. But inclusive government could help build bridges.
In his first speech after elected, new prime minister set a clear agenda for his administration, which may last until the end of in year before general elections are scheduled. Certainly, economy is an on upper of in list of priorities. But it is equally important to restart the external policy that has lost its meaning of direction with Khan.
former The prime minister’s actions were proof of his contempt for constitutional process.
This is good decision on part of in new prime minister urgently call meeting of parliamentsecurity committee investigates allegations of a foreign conspiracy to bring about regime change. May not be truth this theory, but it is necessary clear in false narration built around the cable former ambassador in Washington. The episode damaged the country’s image internationally. with political implications for home. issue was used by PTI government to overthrow the constitution.
What happened over in past The week plunged the country into a constitutional crisis. Khan’s actions were proof of his contempt for constitutional process. It would seem that he “accepted” the decision of the Supreme Court to dissolve on April 3. of The National Assembly is illegal, but reality was different. High drama unfolding on April 9 in Assembly ahead of in no-confidence vote showed his defiance of law.
Every effort was made his party sabotage proceedings of National Assembly, and there were only a few minutes left before the deadline. set The Supreme Court has expired vote called. Threat of the upcoming trial forced the Speaker back down. It was a shameful way out office leader who never stopped lecturing on Western democratic values ​​and morality.
false narration of “foreign conspiracy” against Khan government failed to prevent untangling of in former decree coalition and stop the apostasy from the past prime ministersown party. His decision leaving the National Assembly is another example of his recklessness.
Read: Promise of Imran Khan
now this back to the “container”, marking the beginning of what he describes as “freedom struggle’ against “foreign conspiracy” of regime change.” He vows to bring down what he calls “import mode”. Such populist ultra-nationalist rhetoric encouraged his supporters, as evidenced by the large public rallies across the country. But this cannot change the political dynamic. Given the long history of external involvement in Pakistani politics, many of the educated urban middle class tend to believe in narrative of a “foreign conspiracy”. Support for Imran Khan has certainly taken off, but that cannot be seen as game changer. Many of its supporters equate nationwide demonstrations with the so-called “Arab Spring”, which brought down some authoritarian dispositions in Middle East. Nothing could be more nonsense than to draw such a parallel.
The main question is whether Imran Khan will be able to build and support the mass movement for force in new government to call early election. Its single track strategy nor worked in in past and now it won’t work with the country is changing social dynamics. He doesn’t seem to have learned the lessons from his 2014 dharna that failed break the system despite some silent support from the section of security institution.
PTI decision leaving the Assembly would leave the parliamentary field open to his rivals and could further divide party. Absence in parliament may adversely affect the party’s electoral base of Russia, with several months left for in general elections.
It is debatable whether Khan himself ever believed in parliamentary process. He rarely attended Assembly meetings. No copy in Pakistan, where the decision was made party acted like opposition party. For Khan, every other political leader is corrupt and he would rather not sit with them. His biggest failure was his inability to work inside system. His managerial abilities were limited, obviously because of his arbitrariness. decisions and often changes in his team.
His authoritarian mindset, complacency and lack of of understanding of ruse of state main causes behind his downfall, not an external conspiracy. He survived in power for while he did so despite leading a minority government as of props provided by the security service. He fell like soon how were the crutches removed. But even if the hybrid rule ended, the reckless act of Imran Khan politics and populist rhetoric will continue to haunt the country.
The writer is a writer and journalist.
zhussain100@yahoo.com
Twitter: @hidhussain
Published in Dawn, April 13, 2022
