Crisis mode

Amid rising political instability and deepening economic crisis, the National Security Committee met and, surprisingly, ended on a muted note. The military leadership may have decided not to fish in the institutional domains, and stick to its duties. The government’s resolve to go against the writ of the Supreme Court in a bizarre attempt to delay the elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is at the centre-stage of a nerve-shattering crisis. Moreover, the resolution of the parliament to defy the constitutionally mandated allegiance to the dictums of the apex court has set a precedent that could result in either a civil strife or derailing of the system in vogue. With no saner voices making headlines, the situation is fraught with serious consequences. Will someone from the powers-that-be prevail to abide by the book, and restore institutional order, is a question that is mind-boggling! This is where acumen and wisdom of people at the helm of affairs is at a test, and one hopes serenity will prevail in the larger national interest.

The riddle is: where will we go from here? The deadlock in the constitutional sphere is toiling, as the coalition government literally sits in contempt if it pushes ahead the caravan of defiance. Given the apex court’s categorical decision to abide by the 90-day period of holding elections, with a magnanimous grace period it had come up with this time, there is no room for the government but to fall in line. Yet, the brinkmanship at work is uncalled for, and it seems the ruling dispensation is staking its political capital.

Elections, and but elections, are supposed to be the lifeline of political parties, and shying away from them under cushions of exigency is setting a bad precedent. Likewise, dovetailing the orders of the judiciary is a must, even if it comes at the cost of losing mileage in the executive domain. And this is what the 13-party coalition of the unwilling must learn in all generosity. The sooner it takes a high moral ground of accepting the judicial review, and going into polls, it will be doing a great service to rule of law and democracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2023.

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