Consider the following facts. As a result of the protests, the seat of government — the Pakistan Secretariat — has been almost completely shut down, hindering the functioning of several important ministries. Strange as it may seem to the more cynical ears, but the government of Pakistan actually does provide some essential services to its people. Is the PTI really willing to deprive people of those services while it continues protests that have long since ceased to make any sense?
Schools in Islamabad were shut for several weeks. We were under the impression that the PTI planned on making education a priority. In addition, police deployments for security in the Red Zone mean fewer policemen available elsewhere to keep the streets safe. If this were a high-minded battle against a ruthless dictatorial regime, perhaps some level of disruption in government services may have been justified. But these protests are against an elected prime minister. Perhaps, the PTI has forgotten, but we as voters have the right to throw him out of office if we do not like his performance over his five-year term. The Nawaz Administration has many, many flaws and it has made several mistakes for which its leaders deserve to be held to account. But what is going on in Islamabad is now a farce that will only serve to mask those flaws by creating a ridiculous spectacle that serves no purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2014.
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The government figure of loss is 545 billion in one month?? Are you kidding me?? Such a high figure for sitting at the D chowk for a month. This is grossly over stated. They might as well have quoted the figure of 1 trillion. What about the cost due to the floods?? Floods that could have been prevented had the Shahbaz Sharif government followed the directions of the commision they appionted back in 2010!! This sham democracy must end!!
Dear ET, when is this whole drama going to end, Nawaz is not going to resign, IK and PAT not going to vacate or stop saying go nawaz go. next you will have another election in 5yrs, still the situation will be same, when will we be able to see some real news which is good for pakistan and rest of the world.
I do not see the govt. to be wrong, as surely somebody some % have voted for PMLN, why can't they come out too????
we are sick of this !!!!
Not necessarily one has to agree with the contents of editorial. First time in history of Pakistan such a long sit in has happened. Startling revaltions about political and judiciary elite have shaken the whole nation. When whole election excercise is rigged how one can call the current governemnt as elected one. Instead objecting IK or TUQ why ruling ellite does not sacrifice. Constitute an interim governement with consus of all. Hold mid term elections and let the nation to decide. Personal egos of rulers have over ruled the national interest. IK or TUQ are not to be blamed. Ball is in the court of government and it has to decide if at all it loves Pakistan.
A fair and common sense editorial by ET, thanks for that. You wrote "If this were a high-minded battle against a ruthless dictatorial regime, perhaps some level of disruption in government services may have been justified." All I can say that these rightwing leaders would not dare do that against a dictator. Mush was there for almost a decade but IK initially supported him and never came out with this much force against Mush till the very end. Still PTI has Mush's sympathizers and they make no secret of that. The fact is these leaders want to change the govt in one year and do not accept the election results and their main demand is d-legitimizing of all election results. Have we not seen this movement by PNA to bring in Gen Zia? They show no respect to democracy and elected institutions. Senate is not based upon the last elections but on the two during the army rule. Yet IK and Qadri have nothing but disdain for senate which represents true federation.
Also advice the government to audit election. Government through rigged election is worse than dictatorship.