PML-N losses becoming PTI gains

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N government’s failures are becoming gains for the PTI despite the latter’s not-so-popular politics of street agitation and flawed stance on the alleged 2013 election rigging.
Such is the dismal performance of the PML-N government during the last 20 months of its tenure that even the cabinet ministers express, in private, their surprise as to what has gone wrong with the regime that lacks decision power, takes no initiatives, avoids introducing reforms and has become indifferent to the woes and miseries of the people.
Despite having ruled the country twice at the federal level, the Nawaz Sharif government’s ongoing third term is more known for its bad governance, poor performance and failures than anything else. Just before coming into power, the PML-N leaders were claiming to have a ready-to-implement national reform agenda but practically not even a single reform has been introduced as yet.
Instead, the petroleum crisis like kind of failures are giving the impression as if the N-government has no past experience of governance.
Soon after coming into power, it unveiled its energy policy and promised to work miracles.
However, in real life its energy policy has failed to click with some “promising” projects like Gadani coal scheme already shelved besides getting cold feet on coal-based power projects. Now, the government has decided a “paradigm” shift from coal to LNG-based power projects.
Interestingly, the government had promised to import LNG by November 1, 2014 but it could not do so.
Later, it made an announcement that the LNG would arrive on February 1, 2015 but it also could not happen as yet. Next dates for the import of LNG are unclear but yet the promises are made that in the next few months over 3000 MWs power would be produced by using LNG as fuel.
Similarly, the election manifesto and reform agenda of the PML-N government, which has completed 1/3rd of its term, remains greatly unimplemented.
Hardly any goal as was set in the party’s manifesto has been achieved.
“There is an extreme centralization of power that has made it impossible even for the ministers to perform,”
a federal minister commented, admitting that the government performance is really dismal.
The minister lamented
that the people have started comparing the PML-N government with the last PPP regime. Previously, the PPP and the PML-N used to draw benefits from the failures of each other’s governments but this time, the PPP appears to be not a gainer owing to its own failures in Sindh as well as because of its poor opposition at the centre.
Although Imran Khan and PTI politics have also been criticized for being more interested in agitations and protests than focusing on the party’s performance in the KP, still it appears to be gaining popularity particularly in Punjab — the stronghold of the PML-N — owing to federal government’s failures.
In KP, the PTI is believed to be losing its charm as it could not deliver as per the peoples’ expectations but the feeling in Punjab is also not so good for the Shahbaz Sharif government because of missing zeal for institution building and reforms.
The of late resignation of the reputed Muhammad Sarwar from the office of Governor Punjab was nothing less than a blow to the PML-N though the party and the government succeeded to keep the issue in low profile. In his departure speech before leaving the Governor House, what Sarwar had said was nothing less than a charge-sheet against the PML-N government.
Now Chaudhry Sarwar is reportedly considering joining the PTI. If true, he would be a good addition to the PTI, which interestingly is now the most favourite party to join for “disgruntled” or “rejected” politicians of other political groups.
On Thursday, former AJK PM and PPP leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood joined the PTI. Prior to him Ejaz Chaudhry, ex-PML-N MNA from NA-108 (MANDI BAHAUDDIN) had joined the PTI. The whole family of Rao Sikandar from Okara also recently joined PTI. Riaz Fityana, Saeed Virk former MNA, ex-MPs Niaz Jhakkar and Bahadar Khan Siyyar from Liyyah also joined the PTI. More including Nilofar Bakhtiar are expected to join the PTI.
Most of these leaders joining the PTI might not have much political impact to create but the growing despondency against the ruling PML-N is benefiting the PTI and hurting the PML-N.
The PTI leadership though indicates of going back on roads, it is believed that the PTI’s performance in KP would be the real factor for its better political future.
The PML-N ministers also admit that their party’s future is linked with their performance, which is showing no sign of improvement.