This is taking longer than what was expected, perhaps by all players. The PTI and the PAT thought that the government would be gone by now. The government believed that the two parties would be unable to sustain their sit-ins for more than a week. It’s almost a month now since the sit-ins in Islamabad began and the deadlock is very much intact. The PTI-PAT duo, having allied themselves for all intents and purposes, find themselves running out of cards to play. Their populist rhetoric of change and revolution has failed to resonate with the masses, leaving them less power than required to send Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif home. For now, they can only boast about holding the ground, having failed to emerge victorious by any margin. The military, although sympathetic as evident from statements issued by the ISPR and PTI President Javed Hashmi’s startling revelations, has for now decided against intervening directly in support of the protestors. Behind the scenes, however, it is business as usual. With the amout of time rhat has passed with either party stagnating in its endavours, the nation is bored and analysts are at a loss. But what is even more clear is that these polititians are at a loss and have all got their backs up against the wall. It may not be pride and ego pushing the story, but sheer inefficiency to negotiate and talk themslelves out of a tight spot. Whether it be Imran’s team, team N or Qadri’s one man army.
The government, having survived the initial onslaught owing to critical support from almost all parties in the Parliament, is now navigating ways to move forward. The sit-ins have exposed its vulnerability and lack of control on affairs, and as long as they continue, it will have no choice but to sleep with one eye open. Being distracted from issues concerning governance and economy is not going to help in any way either. Negotiations with the PTI and the PAT are moving slowly, with little hope for an early and decisive breakthrough. Imran and Qadri continue to make fiery speeches, promising their supporters of no return until Nawaz’s resignation, casting serious doubts on the future of talks. Whether they are keeping up the ante to maintain a strong position on the negotiating table or they are simply insincere about the whole exercise, even more time shall reveal.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Pakistan: PTI - PAT - Never-ending Story
This is taking longer than what was expected, perhaps by all players. The PTI and the PAT thought that the government would be gone by now. The government believed that the two parties would be unable to sustain their sit-ins for more than a week. It’s almost a month now since the sit-ins in Islamabad began and the deadlock is very much intact. The PTI-PAT duo, having allied themselves for all intents and purposes, find themselves running out of cards to play. Their populist rhetoric of change and revolution has failed to resonate with the masses, leaving them less power than required to send Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif home. For now, they can only boast about holding the ground, having failed to emerge victorious by any margin. The military, although sympathetic as evident from statements issued by the ISPR and PTI President Javed Hashmi’s startling revelations, has for now decided against intervening directly in support of the protestors. Behind the scenes, however, it is business as usual. With the amout of time rhat has passed with either party stagnating in its endavours, the nation is bored and analysts are at a loss. But what is even more clear is that these polititians are at a loss and have all got their backs up against the wall. It may not be pride and ego pushing the story, but sheer inefficiency to negotiate and talk themslelves out of a tight spot. Whether it be Imran’s team, team N or Qadri’s one man army.
The government, having survived the initial onslaught owing to critical support from almost all parties in the Parliament, is now navigating ways to move forward. The sit-ins have exposed its vulnerability and lack of control on affairs, and as long as they continue, it will have no choice but to sleep with one eye open. Being distracted from issues concerning governance and economy is not going to help in any way either. Negotiations with the PTI and the PAT are moving slowly, with little hope for an early and decisive breakthrough. Imran and Qadri continue to make fiery speeches, promising their supporters of no return until Nawaz’s resignation, casting serious doubts on the future of talks. Whether they are keeping up the ante to maintain a strong position on the negotiating table or they are simply insincere about the whole exercise, even more time shall reveal.
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