Political instability is not something new to Pakistan, which, over the years, has plagued the country’s economic health to an extent that seems beyond recovery, but the present confrontation in the Punjab province has hung the entire nation on tenterhooks.
The persisting state of affairs, with no sign of let-up, and its likely outcome is expected in January when the Lahore High Court would give its verdict on the rulings of the provincial governor and the speakers of the provincial assembly that would determine the fate of the Pervaiz Elahi-led government.
Political confrontation comes at a heavy cost as it hurts the country’s image in the comity of nations and destroyed its economy.
As the political showdown in Punjab is persisting, none of the stakeholders, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an umbrella organization of over one dozen parties – and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which was ousted from power in April, or the masses, appears to be winners. The outcome of the legal battle would settle the dust.
The fresh confrontation came hot on the heels of the announcement by PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, who had hinted that the party would have to take the extreme step of dissolving the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if early elections were not called in the country. This announcement forced the PDM coalition to bring a vote of no confidence against the PTI’s provincial governments in a bid to foil any designs of the PTI chief to dissolve the assemblies.
However, the PTI’s plan was shattered by the Punjab Governor, Baleegh-Ur-Rehman, when he asked the Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to seek a vote of confidence from the assembly. This prompted the speakers of the Punjab Assembly to give a ruling and declare the order of the governor as unconstitutional since the assembly is in session and the call to the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence is against the law.
The standoff finally once again landed in the court. Since PTI Chairman lost vote of no confidence in the National Assembly, Punjab is struggling with political stability. The whole battle between PTI and PDM is associated with the polls as federal government wants elections as per its schedule and the latter demanding the snap polls. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was allowed by the Lahore High Court to continue in his office on condition that he would not dissolve his government until the next hearing of the case on Jan.
Earlier in Jun, an election of the chief minister was settled by the Supreme Court after a ruling passed by the deputy speaker regarding the rejection of 10 votes of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-N) ,polled in favour of Pervez Ellahi, was in violation of its judgement and Article 63-A of the constitution. Pockets of political instability, economic uncertainty and social unrest are unfolding across the country.
At present the country is struggling with multiple issues and its effects are being felt across the society. The incumbent government in the center is facing serious challenges. The existence of panic in political, economic and commodity circles likely to be continued even the political parties agreed on snap or scheduled polls in the country.
