The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the main opposition Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) have started their campaigns for the next general elections which are scheduled for the two years. Their undue haste indicates the polls could be held next year.
According to rumours, accountability in the Punjab starts in a few months and the process will peak by June. A list of about 1,000 people has been made against whom action will be taken. They include politicians, owners and developers of housing schemes and bureaucrats. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has completed investigations against politicians and bureaucrats from the Punjab. If the process remains fair and impartial, it will trouble the PML-N government and force it to announce early elections. According to experts, the NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), empowered by the establishment, will launch uniform action against corrupt people in the home province of the ruling party. It was widely expected after a Rangers-led operation in Sindh in which the PPP and the MQM heavily suffered. It is expected that politicians will also raise the alarm against the establishment to act against corrupt people in its own ranks.
The ruling party lent credence to the rumours of an early election, when it asked its legislators to make proposals for the fulfillment of its promises ahead of the 2018 general election. “Come up with your proposals for next year’s Public Sector Development Programme, which are linked to Vision 2025 and fulfillment of the manifesto of the PML-N government,” Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told a budget preparation meeting recently. He lamented that almost half of Rs700 billion for the programme for 2015-16 had not been utilised. According to media reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to arrange for about Rs300 billion for development schemes in the constituencies of the ruling party’s MNAs in a bid to secure their re-election in the next general election. It means each MNA will receive one billion rupees a year if the general elections are held after two years. The money will be distributed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Community Development Programme.
Taking its cue from the ruling party, the PPP has also launched its electioneering in the Punjab. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari started his campaign from the South Punjab and bitterly criticized the PML-N for its “anti-farmer” policies. “The Punjab government seems to be in no mood to spend development funds in other areas, except in Lahore. The budgetary allocation for southern Punjab which has a population of 40 million people is less than the budget of the metro train,” he told a huge public gathering at Jamal Din Wali, the hometown of former Punjab governor and PPP southern Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood. He also announced ‘rebellion’ against Takhat-i-Lahore (Lahore’s throne).
Few months ago, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed apprehensions about some people or forces which, according to him, were conspiring against his government. He did not name anybody, but it is believed he was alluding to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the establishment. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his ministers have been blaming Imran Khan for every problem in the country and their own failures. They believe the establishment is behind Imran Khan, who has hindered the working of the government through protests. Protests are held all over the world as they are part of democracy, but governments do not attempt to hide behind them. The government cannot blame Imran Khan or the establishment for its poor performance in every sector. It has built only some roads and bridges and neglected all other sectors. It has failed to reform the economy, police, judiciary and provide health facilities, education and jobs to people and it should accept its responsibility rather than making lame excuses.
Last year, in apparent response to an ISPR press release in which Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had underlined “the need for matching/complimentary governance initiatives for long-term gains of operation [against the militants] and enduring peace across the country,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said some people were seeing bad governance despite all the development taking place in the country.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has failed to improve governance, provide speedy justice, depoliticise the police and civil bureaucracy, set up an effective accountability system, overhaul the tax net and empower the parliament. According to experts, total debt liabilities of the country stand at Rs19,299.2 billion as of March 2015. Every Pakistani now owes about Rs101,338. The figure was Rs90,772 in 2013. It was estimated at Rs80,894 in 2012 and only Rs37,170 in early 2008. The government had promised job opportunities and houses to people but all proved a pipedream for them. The government announced a highly publicised Rs100 billion bank loan scheme for the youth, but it failed to click because of serious flaws.
The government had promised to end power suspensions in six months, improve law and order and reduce prices but its priorities changed after coming to power. It has doubled electricity prices but the country still faces a power shortfall of about 5,000 megawatts. The rural areas still receive eight hours of electricity a day. The chronic circular debt has already peaked to almost Rs600 billion despite paying Rs480 billion to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in December, 2013. Last year, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had projected a gap of over 5,500MW between supply and demand in electricity and forecast the situation would improve only after 2019-20.
However, the ruling party remains strong in its home province despite the lapses and flaws. Only the PTI can give it a tough time in the next election. The PPP is a no-hope case in the Punjab. The establishment has worked hard for decades to strengthen the PML-N. Only fair accountability can weaken it and benefit the PTI. Accountability will hurt the ruling party, even if its top leaders are spared and some ministers punished. The situation will become clear in a few months.
According to rumours, accountability in the Punjab starts in a few months and the process will peak by June. A list of about 1,000 people has been made against whom action will be taken. They include politicians, owners and developers of housing schemes and bureaucrats. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has completed investigations against politicians and bureaucrats from the Punjab. If the process remains fair and impartial, it will trouble the PML-N government and force it to announce early elections. According to experts, the NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), empowered by the establishment, will launch uniform action against corrupt people in the home province of the ruling party. It was widely expected after a Rangers-led operation in Sindh in which the PPP and the MQM heavily suffered. It is expected that politicians will also raise the alarm against the establishment to act against corrupt people in its own ranks.
The ruling party lent credence to the rumours of an early election, when it asked its legislators to make proposals for the fulfillment of its promises ahead of the 2018 general election. “Come up with your proposals for next year’s Public Sector Development Programme, which are linked to Vision 2025 and fulfillment of the manifesto of the PML-N government,” Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told a budget preparation meeting recently. He lamented that almost half of Rs700 billion for the programme for 2015-16 had not been utilised. According to media reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to arrange for about Rs300 billion for development schemes in the constituencies of the ruling party’s MNAs in a bid to secure their re-election in the next general election. It means each MNA will receive one billion rupees a year if the general elections are held after two years. The money will be distributed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Community Development Programme.
Taking its cue from the ruling party, the PPP has also launched its electioneering in the Punjab. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari started his campaign from the South Punjab and bitterly criticized the PML-N for its “anti-farmer” policies. “The Punjab government seems to be in no mood to spend development funds in other areas, except in Lahore. The budgetary allocation for southern Punjab which has a population of 40 million people is less than the budget of the metro train,” he told a huge public gathering at Jamal Din Wali, the hometown of former Punjab governor and PPP southern Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood. He also announced ‘rebellion’ against Takhat-i-Lahore (Lahore’s throne).
Few months ago, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed apprehensions about some people or forces which, according to him, were conspiring against his government. He did not name anybody, but it is believed he was alluding to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the establishment. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his ministers have been blaming Imran Khan for every problem in the country and their own failures. They believe the establishment is behind Imran Khan, who has hindered the working of the government through protests. Protests are held all over the world as they are part of democracy, but governments do not attempt to hide behind them. The government cannot blame Imran Khan or the establishment for its poor performance in every sector. It has built only some roads and bridges and neglected all other sectors. It has failed to reform the economy, police, judiciary and provide health facilities, education and jobs to people and it should accept its responsibility rather than making lame excuses.
Last year, in apparent response to an ISPR press release in which Army Chief General Raheel Sharif had underlined “the need for matching/complimentary governance initiatives for long-term gains of operation [against the militants] and enduring peace across the country,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said some people were seeing bad governance despite all the development taking place in the country.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has failed to improve governance, provide speedy justice, depoliticise the police and civil bureaucracy, set up an effective accountability system, overhaul the tax net and empower the parliament. According to experts, total debt liabilities of the country stand at Rs19,299.2 billion as of March 2015. Every Pakistani now owes about Rs101,338. The figure was Rs90,772 in 2013. It was estimated at Rs80,894 in 2012 and only Rs37,170 in early 2008. The government had promised job opportunities and houses to people but all proved a pipedream for them. The government announced a highly publicised Rs100 billion bank loan scheme for the youth, but it failed to click because of serious flaws.
The government had promised to end power suspensions in six months, improve law and order and reduce prices but its priorities changed after coming to power. It has doubled electricity prices but the country still faces a power shortfall of about 5,000 megawatts. The rural areas still receive eight hours of electricity a day. The chronic circular debt has already peaked to almost Rs600 billion despite paying Rs480 billion to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in December, 2013. Last year, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had projected a gap of over 5,500MW between supply and demand in electricity and forecast the situation would improve only after 2019-20.
However, the ruling party remains strong in its home province despite the lapses and flaws. Only the PTI can give it a tough time in the next election. The PPP is a no-hope case in the Punjab. The establishment has worked hard for decades to strengthen the PML-N. Only fair accountability can weaken it and benefit the PTI. Accountability will hurt the ruling party, even if its top leaders are spared and some ministers punished. The situation will become clear in a few months.
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