News Analysis |
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have finally reached an agreement to put an end to the ongoing war of words in the national assembly. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Naeemul Haque on Sunday Tweeted that the opposition leaders met the speaker of NA and they agreed not to criticize any government official personally.
It was widely expected by the anti-government analysts and observers that the PTI will not be able to overcome the economic crisis and will soon step aside.
“PMLN leadership met the Speaker of NA yesterday and offered to stop all personal criticism of the leaders in NA. This is a good sign but must be part of a larger agreement covering overall conduct of the assembly and speedy legislation so the country can move forward,” said Mr. Haque.
PMLN leadership met the Speaker of NA yesterday and offered to stop all personal criticism of the leaders in NA. This is a good sign but must be part of a larger agreement covering overall conduct of the assembly and speedy legislation so the country can move forward.
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) January 27, 2019
Earlier the leader of opposition in the NA started using derogatory words for Prime Minister Imran Khan during the session of the assembly. Mr. Shahbaz Sharif termed Mr. Khan as ‘selected Prime Minster’ who is not interested to come in the assembly and answer the questions of lawmakers. Later on, Mr. Haque took to the twitter and slammed the opposition for their rogue behavior and derogatory words for the PM.
PM’s special assistant also asked if the opposition leader was interested to get his production orders cancelled. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Sharif is currently in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau for alleged misuse of authority during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab.
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While responding to Mr. Haque, PML-N leaders got tough at the ruling party and warned the government of some serious troubles in the parliament if it cancels the production order of Mr. Sharif. Former defense minister Mr. Khawaja Asif also said that the PTI should remain calm and face the criticism. On the eve of Sunday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah said that the Parliament could not function if production orders for Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif were canceled.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Naeemul Haque on Sunday Tweeted that the opposition leaders met the speaker of NA.
“It is our collective responsibility to take decisions which will bring improvement. If the government wants accountability, it should also hold its ministers accountable,” Khursheed Shah said while addressing media in Sukkur. The former leader of the opposition in the NA made it clear that the PPP lawmakers won’t come to the assembly if younger Sharif is now allowed to come in. “Ministers will not be able to come to the Parliament.
We will also not come and Parliament won’t function,” he said in response to a question regarding the cancellation of production orders for Mr. Shahbaz. Observers opine that joint opposition is extremely unhappy due to the uncompromising stance of the ruling party over ongoing accountability wave. Mr. Shahbaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari were reportedly hoping to get a deal to evade accountability but the PM has completely rejected to offer any deal or NRO.
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This has not only united the opposition but also urged it to work against the government to give it a tough time. Analysts believe that prior to the presentation of mini-budget by the Finance Minister in the NA, the opposition was hoping to be tough on government’s economic model and overall governance system but it lost the hope when Asad Umer offered an economic package to upgrade the lives of people by generating new businesses.
Moreover, it was widely expected by the anti-government analysts and observers that the PTI will not be able to overcome the economic crisis and will soon step aside. But as a matter of fact, PM Khan paid visits to friendly countries and sought economic cooperation in order to strengthen Pakistan’s failing economy. Economic packages from Saudi Arabia, China, UAE, and Qatar have significantly helped the PTI rise and stabilize its government.
Experts on Pakistan politics now argue that the opposition is left with other option except terming the government as ‘undemocratic’ or a political force without democratic norms. It is argued that the opposition will repeat the same to stay in the news and politically relevant.