Collision course

Pakistan’s political turmoil has been getting worse by the hour. The country’s laws and constitution are degenerating into a farce. Ironically, those claiming to be the guardians of the constitution are the ones who are doing all of this. The sad reality is that these ostensible representatives of the people are driving Pakistan’s demise by further destabilizing the country.

A few politicians across the spectrum do recognize that political discourse is the only way to resolve this situation. Pakistan Peoples Party reportedly conveyed such a suggestion to the PDM alliance, however it seems PML-N led PDM is not interested in any initiatives to lower the political temperature in the country. It’s quite unfortunate that political parties, who are supposed to resolve their differences through dialogue, are so hell-bent on a collision course in the midst of the biggest economic crisis in the country’s history.

Pakistan’s political landscape has never been a calming one. Petty politics has always been the name of the game in our political arena but now the politicians have turned politics into violent feuds. No matter how disingenuous the aims were in the decades gone by, political rivals used to keep the doors open for a dialogue with each other, but now the situation has become so extreme that the political rivals are literally regarded as enemies.

The current regime used to attack the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government for not reaching out to the opposition; but the same political groups have since shut the door on any political reconciliation. The economic crisis is virtually beyond repair as political parties are preoccupied with their dirty tricks. Millions of people have been forced below the poverty line this year as a result of the lack of stability, which has effectively brought the economy to a standstill. At the moment, inflation is at record high levels.

Political narrow-mindedness has created the worst political and economic crisis the country has ever seen. The country’s institutions are currently at odds with one another, adding further gasoline to the fire. This whole situation is extremely worrying for the country. Along with the political leadership, other stakeholders should understand that everyone must play a part in putting an end to the escalating hostility. Politicians, establishment and  judiciary all need to take a step back and take stock of the situation as the country is already on the precipice and the clock is ticking.