EDITORIAL: Differences of opinion and factional power tussles exist in all political parties, but rarely has a cabinet level member of any party discussed such matters in an open forum and that too with a foreign media entity as did Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, in an interview with Voice of America. Much has been made of his comments about internal party rifts, especially his remarks that Jahangir Tareen was behind the removal of Asad Umar as finance minister, while the latter orchestrated ouster of the former - vehemently denied by Umar. In fact, Tareen has not held any official position since his disqualification by the apex court. He now finds himself on the wrong side of the government because of the Sugar Inquiry Commission report.
Although the Chaudhry said infighting had hurt the government, his key concern did not seem to be rifts among senior leaders, but grouse about non-elected persons who, he said, were unaware of the PM's vision, yet had a bigger say in matters of governance. "Now, it is the Prime Minister's advisers who are making decisions, while the politicians are watching from the sidelines," he averred. Later when the issue came up for discussion in a cabinet meeting Minister for Water and Power Faisal Vawda also expressed resentment against special assistants, advisers and certain ministers. All these issues seem to emanate from the top leadership's style of governance. When out of power Prime Minister Imran Khan used to extol the virtues of Westminster model in which cabinet members are drawn from parliament, and to which they are answerable. But he also seems to have admiration for the presidential form of government from which arises his interest in surrounding himself with unelected technocrats as advisers and special assistants. It is worth noting that at present all major portfolios, except for the foreign ministry, are held by unelected persons unaccountable before public representatives. This goes against the spirit of parliamentary democracy, and gives cause for complaint to elected politicians. Most of the ruling party MNAs also feel ignored. It is usually during the National Assembly sessions that they expect to meet with the party leader and ask for personal favours and/or needs of their constituents. But he hardly ever goes to Parliament.
The PM, of course, has been very angry about the minister going public with his grievances. On his intervention all those involved in the controversy held a special meeting and resolved their differences - for appearances sake at least. That though does not resolve the other issues, especially the one about unelected technocrats who wield more power than the elected politicians - from whom the ruling party derives the right to govern. The PTI surely needs to have better discipline, which also calls for the leadership to address genuine concerns of its ministers and other legislators responsible to their constituents.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
Comments
Comments are closed.