A peculiar comparison

It is unfortunate that the government has allowed the Panama Papers controversy to completely overshadow good sense

On May 6, the prime minister inaugurated yet another extension of the motorway project. At a cost of Rs294 billion, this section of the motorway will be constructed between Sukkur and Multan, and will be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. During his speech at the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister reminded everyone that his government had undertaken the motorway project back in the 1990s and had the PML-N’s rule not been interrupted, Pakistan would by now be a great country. While the construction of infrastructure projects is vital, the veracity of this statement is doubtful given that our education, healthcare and all other development indicators lag behind most of the world. This is a country where literacy and access to quality healthcare are privileges and where a huge number of people live below the poverty line. Extensive road networks alone cannot solve these problems.

This was, however, not the only questionable statement made by the prime minister during his speech. He also likened the opposition with terrorists because according to him both groups disrupt the country’s path to progress. The prime minister believes that holding protests and asking him to step down due to the Panama Papers controversy is just as bad as the bloodshed and violence enacted by terrorists. An odd comparison, given that terrorists have taken thousands of innocent Pakistani lives while the prime minister’s political opponents are part of the same process which brought him to power. They are within their constitutional rights to demand accountability. The democratic process does not end with holding elections. It is the responsibility of all elected members, whether they are part of the government or opposition, to both offer and demand transparency and accountability. It would be a disservice to the people if no decision taken by a sitting government was ever protested and no demand was ever placed on our rulers to explain themselves. The prime minister’s comparison of this essential democratic process with the activities of ruthless killers is absurd and un-statesmanlike. It is highly unfortunate that the government has allowed the Panama Papers controversy to completely overshadow good sense.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2016.

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