PEOPLE of Pakistan have taken a sigh of relief over positive economic indicators but regrettably there is a tendency to prefer politics over economy and as a result the gains might be compromised due to self-centred strategies.
This is evident from the latest threat hurled by Fawad Chaudhry, former Information Minister and Vice President of PTI while addressing a news conference after the party’s political committee meeting with Imran Khan in the chair.
He said the PTI would hold a ‘big’ public meeting in Islamabad to give the government a deadline to dissolve the National Assembly and announce general election in one month’s time.
Of course, PTI is entitled to hold rallies and public meetings to highlight its point of view, air grievances and make legitimate demands but sanity demands no attempt should be made to impose views on others through pressure tactics.
Instead of fanning political and economic crises, which would benefit none, the best course would be to sort out differences through discussions and dialogue.
The uneasiness of the party is understandable as it is feeling the heat of the hostile verdict of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which could land the party and its leadership in deep trouble in weeks and months to come but it must be kept in mind that the option of pressure tactics was tried in the recent past as well but miserably failed.
PTI could not organize an impressive show during its so-called million march on Islamabad that was aimed at forcing the coalition government to announce early elections.
It is, perhaps, pinning its hopes on ‘positive’ response in Punjab this time as the province is now ruled by the party and it was in a position to use official leverage to put up an impressive show.
However, irrespective of political pressure the coalition is not expected to succumb to the demand of immediate elections, which do not suit it due to political implications of the hard decisions that the government made to avoid a default.
Fawad Chaudhry also claimed that giving more time to rulers would destroy the economy, implying that they have the magic to bring the economy back on track, a claim not substantiated by economic policies of the PTI Government.
Similarly, there is also substance in the allegation that the Election Commission is moving against PTI and Imran Khan very quickly when the institution took eight years to deliver a verdict in foreign funding case.
There is also an impression that PTI was not serious in its demand for early elections as it is not willing to dissolve provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP and enthusiastically takes part in by-elections.
It is pertinent to point out that Imran Khan has announced to contest by-elections against all the nine seats of the National Assembly slated for September 25.
General elections are, in any case, not far off even if they are held on time next year, and therefore, instead of raising political tension (with implications for the economy) all parties should focus their energies on necessary preparations for the purpose.
