A decision by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to quit the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government has pushed the country into a serious political crisis, as theoretically Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s administration has lost its majority in the National Assembly.
Unprecedented developments have set off alarm bells in western countries which have high stakes in Pakistan.
“This is the last thing we want … a political mess in Pakistan,” said a western diplomat.
“We are facing a difficult situation in Afghanistan and 2011 is crucial for us … if the situation worsens in Pakistan, things will become very complicated,” warned the diplomat, who wished not to be identified.
Other diplomatic missions have similar apprehensions. “We are monitoring the developments very closely and we hope things remain under control,” a US diplomat told The Express Tribune.
The diplomat said an amicable solution to the current political crisis was not only important for the west’s battle against extremism but also vital for Pakistan’s own interest.
Political uncertainty, analysts say, may distract the government from more pressing issues, ranging from economic woes to militancy.
It also comes at a time when the Obama administration is pushing Pakistan to do more to turn the tide in Afghanistan, although security is largely the purview of the country’s powerful military.
“We do not want Pakistan to be preoccupied with political issues to the extent where it gets distracted from the real problems,” the US diplomat said.
However, he hoped Pakistan’s political system had the resilience to overcome the current challenge.
“We also understand that democracy is evolving here. We don’t want to speculate at this stage,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2011.
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