Let it be made clear at the outset that setting the stage for a possible intervention by the military is not going to be the right solution for the Pakistani people.
It would seem, however, that the overzealous exertions of the politicians protesting on the street, namely Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, to topple the government has led to the authorities and the instigators of the current demonstrations pulling in opposite directions as far as arriving at a rapprochement is concerned.
The viability of Pakistan’s democracy is under threat from these disruptions. It could be a body blow from which the country would find it difficult to recover. To make things worse neither Imran nor Qadri have the correct formula for governance should they succeed in removing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from office.
Walking out of talks with the government, or suspending them, is also not the appropriate solution. It is the kind of ambiguity that the army would feast upon and strive to engineer a situation, like installing a technocratic administration. The breakdown of Pakistan’s democratic framework could have internal and regional repercussions. For the faltering economy it will also be business as usual.
Yes, Sharif could have governed better; there is a strong argument tilting towards this principle. A chronic energy crisis, abject security situation and constant blackouts which affect industrial and domestic life is hardly a positive advertisement for progress and reform that had been promised when he orchestrated a decisive triumph in last year’s general elections.
The least he can do now is consider all components of the problem to arrive at a suitable compromise and ensure that the life of the ordinary Pakistani gets better. To do this the prime minister and his cabinet must look for face-saving measures to thwart the aims of the protesters and, more importantly, park their pride on one side and surrender to the age-old principle of keeping their friends close, but their enemies closer.
