PML-N, PTI, PPP: the three losers of Lahore by-polls

ISLAMABAD: The Lahore voters have buried Imran Khan’s politics of rigging and allegations but at the same time made the ruling PML-N seriously think what has gone wrong with it that despite the massive development work in Lahore, it barely secured the NA-122 but lost the PP-147.
The poor PPP, however, continues to be on the fast track of complete elimination with its top leadership showing no signs of improvement to save the future of what used to be one of the most popular political entities in the country.
The by-elections have proved beyond any doubt that all the PTI rigging allegations — “bejeweled” with curses, abuses and bad mouthing for all those who did not agree to Imran Khan’s politics of rigging and elections — stand baseless. Not only the Judicial Commission’s report on General Elections 2013 got political endorsement, but also the Election Commission of Pakistan’s position got vindicated.
Imran Khan has a lesson to learn. He has wasted almost two-and-a-half years of precious time that he could have spent to change the destiny of the people of KP who voted him to power. At least now he should accept that he was misled to believe that the 2013 General Elections were rigged to steal the mandate of the PTI in favour of the PML-N.
Khan should at least now say sorry to all those who were publicly ridiculed, wrongly charged and repeatedly disgraced by him for what has neither been proved against them legally nor politically.
Undoubtedly, the PTI has emerged as the second largest political party in the country. However, to become the number one, it needs to focus on deliverance and performance both as the ruling party in KPK and as the real opposition in the Centre and Punjab.
Politically as has been reflected time and again in different sets of elections, the PTI’s politics of allegations and agitation did not get it more voters and supporters but perhaps it is losing some.
For the ruling PML-N, the Lahore by-election fights should not be rejoiced but reviewed as a serious caution, as it barely secured the NA-122 by a small margin but lost the PP-147.
In actuality, the PML-N has also lost. Why did it happen despite huge spending of the ruling PML-N on Lahore, its metros (metro bus and now the metro train), road networking, flyovers, ring roads, underpasses, etc? You may disagree with Imran Khan on his politics of allegations and aggression but what he rightly emphasises with regard to institution building and reforms agenda and tries to do it in KPK is, however, completely missing in the PML-N-ruled Centre and Punjab.
Mega projects are important but these are reforms and institution building measures which really have an effect on the life of every citizen, and comfort people’s lives.
Improving service delivery in government departments, reforming and depoliticising the civil service to improve the government efficiency, improving the policing system to check crime and avoid harassing innocents, checking corruption through neutral and independent accountability system, upholding merit, overhauling criminal justice system, ensuring speedy justice, etc, are some of the direly required reforms to bring a positive change in the lives of the people.
The PML-N is reform-shy and is not interested in institutional building. Metros do attract voters but when they are disgraced and wronged in government offices, have to pay bribes or look for connections even to get their legal work done, don’t get jobs on merit and see no improvement in criminal justice system, it all hurts them.
KP is far behind Punjab in terms of development but the changed behavior of the provincial police, school teachers and revenue officials is a source of happiness for the people living there.
In case, the PML-N continues to ignore the much-needed reforms, it is bound to lose its popularity slowly and gradually.
Among the top political parties, the present situation is really alarming for the PPP, which is fast dying in Punjab and all other parts of Pakistan with the only exception being the interior Sindh. And the PPP’s dilemma is that despite having been reduced to Sindh, it is not yet either serious about governance or checking corruption.
The PPP’s bad luck is that despite having been badly dented by the politics of Asif Ali Zardari, it continues to be at the mercy of the widower of Benazir Bhutto.
Bilawal Bhutto is a non-entity whereas the Aitzaz Ahsans, Khursheed Shahs, Raza Rabbanis, Qamar Zaman Kairas of the PPP have no voice. They all are heartlessly witnessing the fall of PPP like a house of cards.