Daily Times

Forasmuch as Khan is PM and his 100 days in power is just round the corner. All I hear from drawing rooms to dhabas (tea café) is the censure on Khan’s discharge. Obviously, it’s because Khan formed nation’s expectations to high pedestal. The way PTI manoeuvred to lash out the opponents was unfair and antagonistic towards the ground reality. However, criticism is fair to an extent but similarly the carper must understand that the country which is under PTI’s drive had been polluted in the past 71 years. It’s not simple to ‘change’ with magic wand.

The recent wave of inflation is the reason why PTI is under a severe criticism. It’s unfair to blame PTI for that because inflation has rapped globally following the Donald Trump sanctions on Iran. In UNGA Donald Trump warned countries to stop purchasing the oil from Iran or else face the ramifications. Soon after that, oil prices hike was discerned in international market. It has safely assessed that 20percent-25percent oil prices have been plunged which is approximately $80/barrel and may turn into triple digit in coming days. Pakistan is the purchaser of oil from Kingdom, and the hike in oil prices will ultimately end up over the inflation on other commodities too. Many economic experts believe that inflation is the vicious circle. In the retrospection, similar scenario appeared in 2008 when PPP regime took over the charge. Later, in the next five years of Nawaz Sharif crude oil prices pressed $40/barrel. The fact is that economy is integrated globally. It is not possible that sanctions on Iran will not affect its neighbours and others. Even our neighbouring country India, its currency parity to dollar has reached highest level in the history which is 73.30 Indian Rupee.

The problem lies when PTI Punjab chapter decided to end up the subsidy on metro bus which is approximately Rs12 billion. Government claims to have the empty coffers. In such inflating circumstances, government has incremented burden on poor people. Government could’ve taken a midway out to assist poor class with a sprinkling of burden on government treasury. Despite the fact that a month back, gas prices swelled and petrol prices is expected to shoot in the coming month. With bundle of inflation, the government should give some relaxation to the poor class where it’s possible.

The smell of coffee is that, PTI wasn’t prepared before coming in power. The government is clueless over the strategies to deal with different sectors such as bureaucracy reforms, finance, accountability, so on and so forth. So far, task forces are formed to figure out the issues and solutions. We hope that committees formed may set the direction of the government to deliver on its manifesto within 100 days which appears to be difficult.

Khan has recently given a statement that few rogue elements are attempting to destabilize my government. Somebody must tell Imran Khan that it is in fact his own Ministers who are themselves digging your grave, or maybe they are doing it on Khan’s orders and to make their support base happy

Government is yet unclear on IMF program which is icing on the cake. And important ministers are grilling opposition inspite of knowing a razor thin majority government in centre and Punjab. That is why Khan has recently given a statement that few rogue elements are attempting to destabilize my government. Somebody must tell Imran Khan that your Ministers are themselves digging your grave or maybe they are doing on Khan’s wish and will to gleeful their support base. Anyways the discussion is going somewhere else; the point is that government either doesn’t understand the crisis or deliberately ignoring it. In any of the case, Imran Khan should categorically tell his Ministers that get to job and avoid giving statement in media because government of day needs to work more and talk less. The ball is in Khan’s court whether to deliver practically or theoretically.

Most importantly, the by elections result has also proven the unpopularity of PTI amidst public. It reflects that people of Pakistan are not pleased with childlike behaviour of government Ministers and there unclear policies.

Nevertheless, one has to be a devil’s advocate after all, the rest of the parties are already tried and tested in past. The political system is rotten and needs to be ‘reset’ likewise US-Pak relation. Moreover, the team with which PTI has fielded contains few new faces but many of them are old faces. Therefore, Khan needs time.

The writer can be reached at muhd.hani@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, October 23^rd 2018.