No crisis in running govt affairs

ISLAMABAD: Two key members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan – are collaborating with Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in running the affairs of the State in some areas in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s absence from Pakistan due to his heart issue.

Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar are particularly making their contributions in taking care of security related issues, when required, and keep liaising with the top military leadership, an informed source told The News.

Their meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif a day before the chief minister left for London two days back to be in the London hospital during his elder brother’s surgery was part of their usual contacts.

There has been a remarkable coordination between Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar dating back to the eighties. They had been holding similar views on most critical issues all the time. The duo and Dar, who have long experience of dealing with important government and political issues, will often hold consultations among themselves to deliberate upon critical issues.

In the days to come, they may hold more such meetings with the army chief and other key leaders. They will keep the prime minister posted as far as it would be possible during his ailment. It is obvious that Shahbaz Sharif briefed the premier about his latest session with General Raheel Sharif.

Dar, who is informally overall in-charge due to the prime minister’s illness, is looking after the finance and economic matters and a large number of other issues on daily basis. However, every step he has taken and the moves of Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar have been approved by the premier.

Contrary to the campaign launched by certain political elements painting a crisis, there is business as usual as far as running of the affairs of the government and State is concerned. No friction or tussle in the cabinet is on the surface. Similarly, there is no lack of cohesion in the ruling party or any demand from any set of its lawmakers or leaders to take any special measures in the present situation. Although a whispering campaign has been going on claiming grouping in the PML-N, not a single voice from it has publicly emerged.

In Nawaz Sharif’s absence, the interior minister elaborately highlighted Pakistan’s stand on
May 21 drone strike in which Taliban chief Mulla Akhtar Mansoor was killed in Naushki, Balochistan. Similarly, he has also introduced policy on re-verification of the Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC).

Likewise, Dar has prepared the federal budget after holding extensive meetings with all the concerned ministries and departments and frequently discussing it with the prime minister. He has held more than one meeting with the military leaders to decide about the budget of the armed forces.

Like before the finance minister will be the decision-maker for the government in the parliamentary committee that is trying to devise the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the judicial commission for investigation into the offshore companies. Since the government’s policy is absolutely firmed upon, he hardly needs any input from any of his colleague.

Apart from the expected smooth approval of the federal budget from the National Assembly, Dar’s main preoccupation in the days to come will be focused on the discussions in this committee. The finalization of the ToRs will be a great challenge for the finance minister when the opposition is insistent upon the acceptance of its terms in totality. In the first instance, the deadlock that emerged in its last meeting has to be broken.