Daily Times

The PTI appears to be stuck doing the time-warp again. At least that is the message the party is sending by placing Nawaz Sharif on the Exit Control List (ECL).

It was during the final pre-poll furlong, back in May, when PTI first recommended such a move. Ostensibly over the former premier’s controversial allegations of active militant cells and cross-border links to the Mumbai attacks. Or, rather, as Kaptaan’s team termed it, for his “tirade against institutions”. This inadvertently played into the narrative of hidden hands and an orchestrated witch-hunt against the then ruling PMLN. While, of course, conveniently circumventing awkward questions as to why the elder Sharif had only decided to blab when his chips were down.

Be that as it may, things have moved on. Nawaz is behind bars; where he will remain for the next 11 years not withstanding a successful appeal. Thus there was no need for Prime Minister Khan to play to the cheap seats in this way. No matter if the PMLN supremo continues to be a thorn in the latter’s side. With recent claims of how he himself paid for the day-to-day running of PM House during his tenure; in a bid to steal the show from the PTI austerity drive.

The point, nevertheless, is this: Imran has won the popular mandate. His focus should now turn towards long-term policymaking and implementation. After all, this is why he announced a pre-emptive three-month foreign trip sabbatical; to better concentrate on the myriad of challenges facing the country. And this is just what he must do. The most urgent items on the agenda being clotting a haemorrhaging economy and resetting international relations. Which is why Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s reaching out across the political divide to those who had previously held this post — including PMLN man Khawaja Asif — to introduce a process of non-partisan consultation was appreciated.

But none of this will be effectively achieved as long as the PM surrenders the larger picture of reconciliation for what now risks looking a lot like personal enmity. It would therefore be far more prudent if the new set-up allowed the courts to do their job; which is the first step towards strengthening the judiciary. For if Imran continues down this path of Nawaz-centricity the inevitable fallout will be found in the politics of distraction; as tit becomes tat ad infinitum. And as always, it will be the people of this country, who risked life and limb to vote in a quite literally bloody election, that will ultimately pay the price.

We therefore urge PM Khan to set the solid foundations for a Naya Pakistan. For without this, the entire edifice will come tumbling down.  *

Published in Daily Times, August 22^nd 2018.