State of the coalition

According to a newspaper report, the PML(N) has decided to give the PPP a final deadline for restoring the judges and initiating the process of the President's impeachment. In case this did not happen, the party would say goodbye to the coalition and withdraw from the Punjab government. The differences have badly affected the coalition government's performance. Bills referred by the National Assembly cannot be taken up as elections of the standing committees' chairpersons have not taken place. Similarly the Parliamentary Secretaries have yet to be nominated. With the cabinet awaiting extension, federal ministers are overloaded with work and find it difficult to concentrate on vital issues. While the coalition is in serious trouble, Mr Zardari who alone can take the decisions needed to hold the two parties together has proceeded from Dubai to Turkey and Greece, indicating the lack of a sense of urgency on his part. There is a perception that the government is increasingly relying on unelected officials and security agencies, which could gradually distance it from the masses.

The developments have encouraged an isolated President Musharraf to observe that the government's performance is not satisfactory and that the state of the economy, which according to him was excellent under the previous government, and of security, is seriously grave now. He has again advocated an across the board reconciliation, thus indirectly suggesting that he still has a role in national politics. The failure by the PPP and PML(N) to resolve their disputes, combined with the grave economic challenges faced by the nation and the gradual increase in incidents of terrorism which had considerably reduced after the takeover by the new government, are giving birth to questions about its future even before it has completed a hundred days in power. Mid-term elections are not being ruled out. Senator Joseph Biden has in fact predicted that the next elections would be held in between 18 months to two years. This would worry all those who had voted for a stable democracy.

The PPP and the PML(N) owe it to their voters to urgently resolve their differences and work together to resolve the grave issues the country is facing. Both stand to lose if the government fails to complete its five-year term. They have to realize that their unresolved differences have provided succour to a highly unpopular and beleaguered President. Many had expected that with the widespread public support that it enjoys the coalition would be able to bring the country out of the doldrums and strengthen the fledgling democracy. These hopes are fast receding. The two parties have to realize the gravity of the situation. The PML(N) leadership should also take a less rigid approach to the conflicting issues so that the coalition is able to work like a dedicated team.

Posted on: 28-June-2008

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