CARETAKER Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, who is known for plain and honest talk, touched a number of important issues and responded to the inquisitive questions by journalists at his news conference on Monday. While reiterating commitment of the interim setup to provide level playing field to all parties to take part in the general election, he reminded people about what happened to the level playing field in 2018 elections when the South Punjab front was formed. He also did not agree that the recent events should be forgotten or that arsonists should receive the same treatment as other political players. The PM rightly expressed the confidence that the 20 agreements signed with China during his just concluded visit to Beijing would be pursued by the future government as these were in the interest of the country.
It is hoped that as stated by the Prime Minister, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which has the mandate for the purpose, would soon announce a firm date for polls ending persistent rumours and wild conjectures in this regard and, therefore, the political parties should now focus on their election narratives and manifestoes. While PML(N) seem to have made a beginning towards as its leader Mian Nawaz Sharif gave broad contours of a plan of action to steer the country out of existing economic troubles, other parties, regrettably are focusing more on rhetoric and blame-game than offering their own solutions for the messy situation. Interestingly, both the PTI and the PPP demand level playing field for all political parties but reacted negatively to the return of MNS to Pakistan and his re-entry into national politics. Their leaders offered sarcastic remarks over grant of interim bail and provision of the facility of biometric to MNS at airport terming it as undue facilitation despite the fact that the PML(N) leader was wronged and was entitled to seek remedies for redressal of his grievances. All this means, the term ‘level playing field’ has self-centred connotations for different leaders and parties and in reality not all of them really believed in provision of level playing fields to all contesting parties and individuals. One feels constrained to agree with the Prime Minister that the law should take its own course if somebody or some party indulges in unlawful activities as there can’t be a license for violence for anyone on any pretext. As for mutual collaboration with China, the nation firmly approves the statement of the PM that all agreements signed with Beijing would be honoured by the next government as the country suffered hugely because of ill-advised policy of the previous PTI Government which halted the momentum of the cooperation under the framework of the CPEC. With only one week left for voluntary return of illegal immigrants, the PM renewed commitment of his government to move decisively against all foreigners staying illegally in the country after the deadline, a pledge that augurs well for the country.
