The PTI rally in Kashmir, just after the KP provincial assembly session in the stadium, reminds me of Shakespearean Comedy of Errors. What a pity indeed!
The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rally in Kashmir raised more questions than answers. He spoke loudly before mostly empty chairs, made big claims, and relied on hollow statements. This increasingly familiar pattern of political theatre, rather than governance, has now created a series of serious concerns that cannot be ignored.
The most basic concern is about priorities. A Chief Minister heads a provincial government, yet his attention appears constantly divided between different political theatres outside his province. One day the focus shifts towards Lahore, another day towards Islamabad, and then towards Kashmir. In this constant movement, the central question remains unanswered: what exactly is happening inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa itself? Governance is not about appearances elsewhere, but about delivery at home. A province struggling with development and public service cannot afford a leadership that is continuously elsewhere in political engagement rather than present in administrative responsibility.
Closely linked to this is the blurred distinction between party politics and state governance. A Chief Minister is not merely a party figure; he is the executive head of an entire province representing all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. Political activity is the domain of party structures and leadership, not of governmental office. When that line begins to fade, governance itself becomes secondary to political messaging.
A functioning government is judged not by how frequently it appears on political stages, but by what it delivers to its citizens.
This raises another fundamental concern regarding the use of state machinery and resources. When government officials engage in political rallies and large scale public events, it becomes necessary to ask a simple question: who is bearing the cost? Whether it is travel, logistics, or arrangements, clarity is essential. Public resources are meant for public welfare, not for political projection. Any ambiguity in this regard weakens institutional trust and raises legitimate concerns about accountability.
At the level of governance performance, the contrast with other provinces becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. On multiple indicators of service delivery and development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa struggles to present a convincing case of progress. If governance were the real priority, one would expect visible competition in public welfare projects, infrastructure development, and institutional improvement. Instead, what dominates the political landscape is narrative building rather than measurable outcomes.
A functioning government is judged not by how frequently it appears on political stages, but by what it delivers to its citizens. Yet there is little on record that can be highlighted as a landmark welfare initiative that has transformed public life in the province. The focus, instead, appears to remain on criticism, slogans, protest politics, and continuous political activity.
This is further reinforced by an increasing level of institutional unseriousness. Formal governance structures exist, yet important legislative and administrative functions are sometimes relocated to unconventional venues such as stadiums. These arrangements come with additional logistical costs, elaborate setups, and unnecessary expenditure, raising valid concerns about priorities in public spending. A government is expected to demonstrate restraint, discipline, and institutional respect, not convert governance into a stage managed event.
Ultimately, the concern is not about political activity itself, but about the growing imbalance between governance and politics. When administrative responsibility is overshadowed by constant irrational political display, the essence of public service begins to weaken. Governments are not elected for theatrics , but to deliver. And in that delivery, the real test of leadership lies. Here , PTI fails.
The writer is a freelance columnist.