PTI's woes

Mired in confusion, the opposition currently finds itself in a standstill mode. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan's confirmation that talks with the government are non-existent is no news; the core of the message lies in his assertion that progress depends entirely on "those who hold real authority". Gohar's assertion can be interpreted in two ways – it either signals a fundamental lack of trust in political parties, a stance that undermines the spirit of parliamentary governance; or it highlights the government's failure to offer the opposition its rightful political space. In essence, the PTI is directly addressing the powers-that-be to redress its grievances and ensure its core demands are finally met.

PTI's foremost anguish is the treatment being meted out to its jailed leader, Imran Khan. Clearly, the government is operating in defiance of both the law and prison regulations by blocking Khan from meeting his associates and denying his party a level-playing field inside and outside of parliament. It is ironic that past engagements between the government and the opposition have yielded no real progress in breaking the country's crippling political deadlock. The lack of tolerance on the part of the executive has only added to the mistrust. Also, the failure to provide judicial relief to political prisoners has shattered confidence in institutions, putting them on a collision course.

The PTI's persistent appeals to the Supreme Court for the lawful bail of the former first couple, paired with the opposition leader's willingness to cooperate on matters of state, must eventually lead to a logical resolution. There must be an immediate realisation that the current standoff is pushing the country over the edge. Beyond crippling the economy, this prolonged instability is empowering disgruntled factions to fuel widespread socio-political unrest. All that is desired is to strengthen the fragile democratic process and enable the institutions to dispense their constitutional role free from coercion and intimidation. The PTI would be better advised to look inward and solicit a political solution.