Daily Times

The PTI, with a helping hand from its friends across the political divide, secured the slots of both speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly. It was a similar story in the Punjab and Balochistan where its allies took home the crowns.

Imran Khan should revel in his almost unimaginable gains in the Punjab. Yet by successfully breaking the traditional Sharif stronghold, the pressure is most definitely on. He is, however, off to a good start. And he should make the most of the goodwill of the electables towards their fellow turncoats while it lasts. Such as all the PTI latecomers who stood up amid much desk-thumping to welcome their former boss, PMLQ chief Pervaiz Elahi, as he made his return to the Punjab Assembly after an absence of some 11 years. This strong show of support also saw the latter scoop the slot of speaker of the provincial assembly despite his party boasting a paltry 10 seats. Elahi was escorted to the floor by a former close aide who had decided to bat for Imran’s team in last month’s elections.

The victory of Pervaiz Elahi, however, came with a disturbing development as he received more votes than the PTI-led coalition has garnered. The media have been speculating about a forward bloc within PMLN or worse horse-trading that may have allegedly taken place. This does not bode well for a government that promises clean governance. In fact, the PTI must avoid this temptation at all costs. For those who cross over demand a pound of flesh for their support; thereby underscoring how the cycle of political corruption perpetuates itself.

Furthermore, as a matter of policy, Imran must work hard not to alienate the PMLN. For it cannot be denied that he won the Punjab, to a certain extent, on the back of those who had jumped ship at the last moment; in a veritable case of sink or swim. To do otherwise is to risk insulting voters who cast their ballots for those who had become familiar faces over the last decade.

It remains worrisome, however, that the Prime Minister-elect has thus far not named his nominee for chief minister of the Punjab. The longer this situation prevails the more it will begin to look like indecisiveness as opposed to meticulous pondering.

For the province has become synonymous with the concrete embrace of mega infrastructure projects. The challenge ahead will be to correct this trend — ostensibly by ensuring that future funding goes towards public service delivery such as health and education — without letting loose in parliament about the previous regime’s nonchalant attitude towards spending public coffers. Not because this is something to be endorsed but simply to avoid the politics of distraction that new governments are wont to indulge in. The PMLN is still reeling from what it sees as an orchestrated witch-hunt against its leadership and political prospects. Thus if it feels it has to suffer further pressure, this will simply pave the way for needless confrontation. That’s the last thing the country needs given the grave challenges it faces.  *

Published in Daily Times, August 17^th 2018.