New decorum in Punjab

The Punjab Assembly is gearing up for a new power decorum in the wake of bye-poll results. The PTI-PML-Q candidate Pervez Elahi, as far as numerical strength is concerned, is set to become the next chief minister of Punjab. But as they say there are many slips between the lip and the cup.

If reports are any criterion, there are efforts on the part of PML-N and the nine-party ruling coalition at the Centre to stage-manage the apparent change and to somehow retain Hamza Sharif as the chief executive. This will be another crude attempt on their part, and will go against the norms of parliamentary democracy and rule of law. Hamza has ceased to command the majority of the house, and his exit is fait accompli as per results of the bye-polls wherein the PTI bagged 15 out of 20 seats. PML-N is in need of upholding the spirit it exhibited by accepting the poll results and letting the buck move on to see a change of command at the provincial helm of affairs.

The worry is that with Punjab slipping out of PML-N’s hands, the federal dispensation will also be at stake. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is clinging on a wafer-thin majority of two votes, and incidentally has no say over affairs in all the four provinces, as well as in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. This power vacuum conundrum will keep the ball rolling and might influence his allies to look at the broader picture of calling it a day. Nonetheless, the resolve on part of the PDM coalition to stand with Shehbaz is a blessing in disguise but falls short of a meaningful solution to address the challenges before a fragile government in an era of price spiral and ensuing instability.

A rejuvenated PTI is out with a wish-list, and the least it could settle for is the announcement of general elections. Until and unless the political discord is addressed, its ripple effects will keep the country unnerved. This polarisation calls for a dialogue wherein stakeholders across the board must come up with a consensus to salvage the country, which is at the verge of default and astute parochialism.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2022.

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