PRIME Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday ruled out reconciliation with the opposition parties amid the latter launching an anti-government movement under the banner of their newly formed alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). Talking to two Senators of his party, he said the opposition can hold rallies and stage sit-ins but they would not get NRO.
It is appreciable that the Government was revising its original policy of not allowing protests and rallies and the latest remarks of the Prime Minister confirm softening of the position as far as exercise of the democratic rights by the opposition is concerned. However, in politics doors are never shut to talks as interaction and mutual accommodations have the potential to help resolve the most complicated issues as well. No one is asking the Prime Minister to abandon the process of accountability but inter-mingling of accountability and political issues is making the political scenario murkier. We have a full-fledged institution of accountability and some of the grievances of the opposition can be taken care of if the cabinet members refrain from the tendency of issuing provocative statements on the accountability process. Let the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to pursue cases of corruption and misuse of power and authority in a highly transparent and fair manner. Appointment of an Advisor on Accountability, who holds frequent press conferences on the issue and cases of corruption, sends confusing signals whether NAB is the watchdog for accountability or the office of the Advisor. The Prime Minister has done well by advising his team of spokespersons to focus on issues like inflation and economic recovery instead of wasting its energies on the opposition’s protests and rallies. This is important in the backdrop of the hair-raising report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has predicted stagflation in Pakistan. The World Economic Outlook report says Pakistan’s economy could grow by only 1%, inflation may cross above 10% and rate of unemployment will further jump by the end of this fiscal year. But focus on inflation and economy is possible only if there is complete peace and security in the country, which is a prerequisite for implementation and continuation of policies and programmes of the Government. Therefore, there should be no harm in establishing contacts with the opposition and sorting out issues on the negotiating table. Head of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has already declared that their struggle would be within the bounds of the law and the Constitution. There is, therefore, scope for reconciliation and the opportunity should not be wasted as it is a question of peace and progress of the country.
