Political reconciliation
THE policy of brinkmanship in politics has given nothing but multiplied the predicaments of the people and indeed exposed the shenanigans of the successive governments attributed to their incompetence and myopic vision rooted in the skewed-up mindset.
The policy of reconciliation, if so, is the welcoming change because Pakistan cannot afford politics of confrontation in the face of grim economic situation that is further exacerbated as the economic indicators are projecting long haul.
Parliament cannot function without the constructive role of both the Treasury Benches and the Opposition.
Today the importance of reconciliation in the country’s politics is much more than ever before.
Today Pakistanis are more divided. Both the government and the Opposition are not ready to solve issues relating to the country and the nation.
Should Opposition not agree to immediately slash down the mounting tariff of electricity, gas, petrol and reduction in prices of medicines and daily commodities? No statement from any politician is deemed as breath of fresh air in the current political atmosphere that has been otherwise mired in witch-hunting, incendiary allegations, counter allegations sprawling anger and frustration among the people who wanted the political leadership to focus on to solve their problems instead of getting to each other throats.
The need for political understanding between the political divide may not be over emphasized.
The role of PPP was particularly very crucial at that time for not only standing to the side of the parliamentary politics but also successfully convinced the PML-N and the religious parties to become part of Parliament in the interest of the federation and democracy.
Who would not agree that the post-election days were ideal to launch movement against the election rigging when the allegations were flying thick and high right across the country that needed proverbial ignition? But the opposition parties stood for parliamentary politics and assured the PTI leadership of its cooperation in the largest interest of democracy and the constitutional rule.
The PTI government should have been grateful to the inappropriate opposition parties those declared in no unequivocal terms to favour parliamentary politics over the street politics soon after the elections of 2018.
The incumbent PTI leadership should have taken this offer in good faith to get on to the business of overcoming the challenges facing the country with the political consensus. Unfortunately, the good offer was turned down by the leadership with disdain.
The PTI leaders and its government decided to excel in witch-hunting and negative politics by resorting to browbeating the opposition into submission without realising this negativity would pave the way to their political oblivion sooner than later.
In democratic dispensation, opposition is the second equally important wheel to move forward on the trajectory of development, progress, security and overall upward social mobility.
It may be surely easy to constitute government without the cooperation of the opposition but to run the government smoothly without the cooperation of opposition is indeed impossible in democracy.
The composition of the incumbent Parliament further confirms that the government may remain struck in a rut in the face of formidable strength of the opposition in Parliament clearly suggesting the legislative business cannot be carried out.
Politics of confrontation has never benefitted anyone except the enemies of the country those want the country spew its own soup.
Parliament is no more a centre of gravity of country’s politics. Leader of the House must lead the House but his abdication is beyond comprehension.
Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani as Premier always ensured his presence in Parliament that really constituted the shining example of the leader of the House within Parliament.
The dividends for the nation were heart-warming as the Parliament passed historic 18th Amendment with consensus, gave identity to KP, and empowered the Parliament including other host of landmark legislations, notwithstanding the fact that the PPP had not majority in Parliament.
But its parliamentary performance was exceptional simply because it took along the Opposition in building consensus on all legislative businesses.
The PTI leadership may take page from parliamentary successes of the PPP to rectify its mode of politics. Today Pakistan needs more harmony, unity and reconciliation than ever.
—The writer, based in Islamabad, is book ambassador, columnist and author of several books.
