Elections, when?

Demand for elections is being considered by politicians at large- the million-dollar question is: when to hold them?

Pakistan’s political mosaic is too divisive. One of the foremost riddles these days is: when will the general elections be held, and when will the political turmoil come to an end? Things are not evenly pitched as polarisation is at its peak. Though the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in huddle with its allies to address political chaos and ensuing economic uncertainty, the task is too gigantic to handle. Moreover, ex-PM Imran Khan and his PTI are up in agitation, and are unwilling to settle down on anything less than announcement of elections. The situation becomes pensive as almost half of the National Assembly legislators belonging to the PTI stand resigned, and the Punjab Assembly’s fate too hangs in the balance. Thus, in the absence of a formal communication track between the government and the opposition, things are sharply precipitating.

The demand for elections, however, is being considered by politicians at large. But the million-dollar question is: when to hold them? The ECP has officially pronounced that delimitations of constituencies and the final roll-call will only be ready by August. The announcement of the budget too is round the corner. Likewise, the government’s resolve to introduce electoral reforms is a cumbersome process, which is easier said than done. But the point is that political parties have to rise to the occasion and address the simmering unrest in a visionary manner. No point in raising the stakes by opting for showdowns at a time when the security is fragile and the economy is in doldrums.

Also, the government of Shehbaz Sharif is feeling the heat of making unpopular economic decisions in view of IMF’s assertive demands, and that too at the cost of public ire. The incumbents are thus in a fix as to what should be the best way forward. While the recent London huddle presided over by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was expected to come up with a decision on the all-important matter; unfortunately, it did not. The fast deteriorating economic crisis and the deepening political chaos allow no further delay. The government must make up its mind forthwith — keeping the national interest above anything else — whether or not it wants to stay in the saddle.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2022.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.