Political bickering

Amid the winter's chill, the political temperature in the country is on the rise. PTI and the rest are locked in a duel, and all are contributing to perpetual instability. The security pulse on the western frontier too is getting nasty. And if the house is not put in order, it could come to toil in a catastrophic manner. The DG ISPR's press, the other day, has opened a new vista of confrontation. The military spokesperson's criticism of incarcerated former PM Imran Khan is getting a severe pushback from the PTI and its supporters.

This clash of narratives is quite unnerving and surely deteriorating social harmony – doing no good as far as national interests are concerned. It is a given that the country is groped in uncertainty, and with the economy taking a nosedive – as the IMF too is vary of its strength – all that is desired is political consensus to get going. That, however, does not seem to be on the anvil as the government believes in discriminating against the opposition, something that is evident from the ban it has announced on meetings with the jailed PTI founder, at the cost of disregarding law and ethics.

The bickering seems getting more bizarre as the Centre is contemplating Governor's rule in K-P. That is highly ill-advised and would add to the miseries that the reclusive province is suffering from in the form of an uptick in terrorism. Likewise, it would also serve as a shot in the arm for the PTI, and the incumbent CM, Sohail Afridi. An instant outcome would be setback for allies at the Centre who are on a losing streak in terms of political currency.

The government's denial of due political space to the opposition is now officially flagged in Washington. Forty-four Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding intervention over the "escalating campaign of transnational repression and worsening human rights crisis in Pakistan". This certainly invites some introspection and watching the steps earnestly. The path forward is an unconditional dialogue with the PTI and release of political prisoners.