Daily Times

Dear Mr Prime Minister, people still disagree on whether your winning the cricket World Cup in 1992 was the most fortunate moment for the nation or a great misfortune. You were leading 11 players. One wonders whether or not the fact that as our prime minister you are supposed to lead around 22 million people has sunk in. In your campaign rallies you promised a tsunami of change. Some people would say you are really doing well in that regard. Prices of petrol and electric power are truly rocketing. There are fears that one of your U-turns will sink the economy and leave the country bankrupt.

The prices of commodities of daily use are rising so quickly the poor can no longer afford two square meals. Did you not promise that your government will eradicate malnutrition from Tharparker to KPK? Did you not say that there will be one education system in the country for all children?

Dear Mr Prime Minister, people still disagree on whether your winning the cricket World Cup in 1992 was the most fortunate moment for the nation or a great misfortune. You were leading 11 players. One wonders whether or not the fact that as our prime minister you are supposed to lead around 22 million people has sunk in

Nearly eight months into your term, your government has not completed a single project. The Naya Pakistan looks a lot like the same old one; in fact, a little older.

You are unable to keep peace even among your cabinet colleagues and party leaders. Shah Mahmood and Jahangir Tareen are fighting in full public view. Chaudhry Fawad and Sheikh Rasheed are in disagreement.

Mr Prime Minister, while in opposition you said loud and clear that the MQM had a fascist ideology; that it was involved in the Baldia Factory arson and the May 12 massacre.

Today, after its leader Altaf Hussain has publicly admitted that its leaders and workers were involved in land grab and other criminal activities, you maintain that the MQM leaders are innocent. You say your party will contest the next election together with the MQM.

Newspapers are reporting that the consumer price index reached 9.4 per cent in the month of March. The rupee price of US dollar is rising by the day. We have seen the largest increase in prices of daily use in five years.

Mr Prime Minister, while in opposition you said loud and clear that the MQM had a fascist ideology; that it was involved in the Baldia Factory arson and the May 12 massacre. Today, after its leader Altaf Hussain has publicly admitted that its leaders and workers were involved in land grab and other criminal activities, you maintain that the MQM leaders are innocent

Out of the 51 specific manifesto promises your government has fulfilled one: to set up a special task force to recover stolen national wealth. While four jobs have been partially completed and 28 are in progress, 18 have yet to start. At this rate, your government will accomplish no more than seven to eight of the promised jobs. This is slow going indeed. The country needs the speed of a tiger, not a tortise.

Accountability is very important but it looks like you are content with threatening the opposition with jail. You have to remember you are the prime minister of Pakistan not a king. You have to respect the laws of the country. Of course, the corrupt must be jailed but for the country to prosper the government also needs to come up with sound policies.

The writer is an Assistant Professor at Department of Media and Communication Studies University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan