The current state of affairs in Pakistan is deeply concerning as the country appears to be slipping back into another cycle of political instability and turmoil.
The recent general elections left the public feeling dejected and disillusioned with a growing sense of anger and frustration towards the newly-formed government. The public no longer finds the government’s pretense of stability or its assertions that the correct policies are being implemented to deal with the problems facing the country to be credible.
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The people in charge of managing the state’s affairs are making mistake after mistake, undermining their credibility.
Recent events regarding the wheat scandal, where decisions made by the outgoing government have resulted in large financial losses, have only served to increase public dissatisfaction. Just as local grain was about to be harvested, the caretaker administration imported massive volumes of wheat, infuriating millions of farmers who now find themselves without a market for their crop.
This whole affair took place at a time when the country was supposed to be trying to save every rupee. To protect itself from political backlash, the government is now going to purchase more wheat from farmers. The choice is essentially being made solely to appease irate farmers, which will result in increased expenses and financial losses. It appears that no one will be held responsible, and the blame game will conclude the outcry.
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Furthermore, the recent protests and crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are evidence of the state’s inability to effectively assess the pulse of the public, prioritise the demands of the people, and pursue meaningful reforms. The fact that these protests are taking place in a strategically crucial location, given the territory’s vitality to Pakistan’s foreign policy and its proximity to India-administrated Kashmir, is evidence of our inadequate handling of this region.
The fact that Kashmiris were forced to confront state officials to demand nothing more than electricity, wheat subsidies, and equitable taxation for the wealthy is an indication of the extent of failure.
Even though the government has conceded to the demands of the protestors in AJK, the situation remains unresolved. The reason behind the continued protests is not that the government’s promised subsidy is insufficient to appease the demonstrators’ demands; rather, the public’s mistrust of the government’s commitment persists even after the notification has been made public. People don’t seem to think that the government is there to serve them, but rather is an obstacle.
While demands of the AJK rallies were met within days, some would conclude that the administration did not really believe in what the protestors were asking for.
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It seems that the authorities conceded to the protests because they could not afford for AJK to be perceived as wanting better treatment from Islamabad, considering that Pakistan has spent decades persuading the world that their side of the Line of Control, bordering India, is a better example of the partition.
By accepting the protestors’ requests in AJK, the administration has shown people in other provinces how to get relief for the similar issues they are confronting.
Will people in KP, Punjab, Sindh, and other areas be treated similarly if they decide to protest and demand help? There’s a growing degree of dissatisfaction with the way problems are addressed, or perceived to be handled.
All of this is taking place while an IMF delegation is in Islamabad to assess the current government’s willingness and ability to sign a larger bailout package that would necessitate far tougher measures and perhaps burden the general populace. The mission may raise more concerns about the government’s capacity to implement its suggested measures in light of what is happening.
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The government is desperate for things to turn around and for better coverage in the media. This obvious desperation has recenttly resulted in poor choices being made on the diplomatic front as well.
There were reports that the Saudi Crown Prince might pay Pakistan a visit in May, but there had been no formal arrangement with the kingdom regarding the subject.
Along with other authorities, the prime minister and deputy prime minister have all made public comments regarding the visit as though it was already scheduled and everything was formally agreed. They made a halfhearted attempt to link it excitedly to investments from Saudi Arabia.
There was no scheduled trip, and even if there had been, the foreign office should have been the one to announce it rather than others, which has only served to fuel criticism.
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It is understood that those in power are keen to sell the idea of stability in Pakistan, but the fact remains that stability has still not returned, and when it does, everyone will know it.
The path ahead is undoubtedly a challenging one. The government must take decisive action to regain the trust of the people and demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing their concerns.
Failure to do so will only lead to a deepening of the crisis, with potentially dire consequences for the country and its people.
The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners
The writer is Head of the Political Desk at Business Recorder (Digital)
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