The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stood victorious in the 2013 general elections with Nawaz Sharif subsequently taking over the reins of government. From the very outset, the PML-N government took a few good, cogent steps of which the significant decrease in electricity load shedding is one worth mentioning. The improved law and order situation in Karachi and the to a large degree successful drive to win the War on Terror are other potent examples.
At the same time, however, the PML-N has committed several blunders. It has taken ‘U-turns’ on many important issues and has overlooked a number of other key problems. After coming into power, for instance, it did not give foreign affairs the importance it warranted.
The PML-N during its government term, compromised on many important matters. Sometimes this was done on the pretext of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ and sometimes in the name of reconciliation. For instance, it did not make amendments to income tax laws because of a fear of powerful tax evading lobbyists, thereby depriving the government of revenue for development projects and concomitantly slowing economic growth.
In the economic sector, Ishaq Dar artificially controlled the dollar by taking out loans and stockpiling foreign reserves. This damaged the value of the Pakistani Rupee as well as the export sector. The PML-N also failed to increase either exports or foreign reserves.
The outgoing government did not appoint a foreign minister which led to various setbacks in international relations. It neither focused on boosting tourism in the country nor did it promote trade with neighbouring countries.
The gas pipeline agreement signed with Iran during the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) era was also shelved, resulting in Pakistan being deprived of cheap gas. Instead, the PML-N decided to purchase expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) which has caused foreign reserves to plummet.
The PML-N also failed to undertake agricultural reforms or tax large landlords due to fears of political fallout. It did not provide much needed subsidies to the agricultural sector either. Ignoring the agriculture sector is in fact one of the biggest mistakes the PML-N committed.
The PML-N government also paid little to no attention to the upcoming water crisis. They have finally dealt with the issue after ignoring it in the past five budgets, but this now seems a case of ‘too little, too late.’ We cannot forgive this omission since future generations will suffer because of the PML-N’s apathy.
Over 40 MAF of water is going into the sea and is being wasted. The Kalabagh Dam and the Diamer-Basha Dam have a capacity of 6.5 and 8.5 MAF of water storage, respectively. But the Party did not pay attention to these hydro power plant projects.
Instead, coal and LNG plants have been established in Punjab which come with two disadvantages. First, they have negative effects on the local environment and second, the raw materials being used in these projects must be imported, which will once again strain our foreign reserves.
The PML-N government also delayed reforming the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)until the final week of its tenure because of opposition from two coalition partners, Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Mahmood Khan Achakzai. This delay contributed to the creation of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement and to the resurgence of terrorism in these areas.
The PML-N did not also wholeheartedly implement the National Action Plan (NAP),while the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) was never activated.
The PML-N did not prioritise the education and the health sectors either. Student unions were not restored in educational institutions. A much needed syllabi update was also neglected. An adequately educated and aware youth could have become a bulwark for democracy.
The biggest mistake the PML-N committed was establishing military courts through an amendment to the constitution. Regarding this, Raza Rabbani said, “I have been in the Senate for more than 12 years but have never been as ashamed as I am today, and I cast my vote against my conscience.”
The PML-N should have learnt how to work the parliamentary system from the PPP, which, despite heading a weak coalition government, managed to achieve amazing feats such as passing the 18th constitutional amendment and amicably giving the National Finance Commission Award.
The PML-N obliterated the supremacy of parliament by not removing the amendments introduced in the dictatorial era, and this led to the party suffering from this blunder. Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from politics for life owing to the articles a dictator inserted into the constitution.
Under Article 140 of the Constitution, financial, administrative and political authority and responsibility need to be transferred to local governments, but the PML-N restored the old, British-era deputy commissioner system. This was a cruel mockery of democratic values. Restrictions were also imposed on the freedom of the press and on the freedom of expression. Using the pretext of the Cyber Crime Bill, the media was effectively muzzled.
The PML-N should have learnt how to work the parliamentary system from the PPP, which, despite heading a weak coalition government, managed to achieve amazing feats such as passing the 18th constitutional amendment and amicably giving the National Finance Commission Award
Mian Sahib should not have let Musharraf leave the country under any circumstances. He should have made the Abbottabad Commission Report public. He should also have remained firm on the Dawn Leaks issue instead of making his loyalists scapegoats.
Over the last five years, there have been many opportunities for the PML-N to increase its popularity with the masses. For example, Mian Sahib claims today that there were forces behind the 2014 sit-in staged by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Tehreek-e-Insaf. He could have exposed these forces far earlier. The PML-N made various Faustian bargains over the years to prolong its rule, decisions that weakened both the party and democracy in the country.
The writer is a freelance journalist, columnist, and analyst
Published in Daily Times, June 5th 2018.