A battle for survival

Three years after his party’s historic victory in Pakistan’s general elections, the debate at home is not whether Prime Minister Sharif’s government has improved the country’s security situation or managed to kickstart a sluggish economy. Instead, it is more about the credibility and accountability of country’s political leadership. Sharif finds himself in the middle of a raging controversy sparked by the startling revelations of Panama Papers. The immense political pressure from opposition parties has doubled in the embattled premier’s recent meeting with Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif in which he urged the premier to resolve the issue amicably at the earliest. Further, the refusal of Pakistan’s apex court to form a judicial commission to probe the Panama allegations could not have come at a worse time for Sharif and his family.
Meanwhile, Sharif has found a new mentor and strategy to tackle this crisis. He is seeking inspiration from Turkish President Erdogan and wants his government to follow his strategy that allowed him to bring the once-mighty Turkish military establishment under control and tame political opponents. In consultations with his inner circle, Sharif has been reported to insist that the party must stand its ground and rally public support in its favor.
It seems that he wishes to emulate the success of Erdogan by confronting the army and not buckling under the pressure of the nine-party opposition alliance. This approach could be suicidal for Sharif as it completely disregards the political maturity and economic stability of Turkey. Pakistan has its own set of challenges and ground realities related to politics, economy and civil society that Sharif should bear in mind for his own political survival.
The government would be well advised to show more responsibility in this situation and focus on defusing civil-military tensions. Relations between the two sides have soured as men in uniform lead by example to seek greater accountability across all institutions and push for early completion of CPEC projects. Even though the military has so far shown restraint and not directly intervened in the political chaos, the government should not test its patience.
There is no doubt that the scandal is proving to be a distraction from important issues like that of national security and economic development under the mega CPEC project. Pakistan has entered into a critical phase in its fight against terrorism and it is imperative that the civil administrations plays its part by taking all necessary measures proposed under the National Action Plan (NAP).
If Pakistan is to become a progressive, democratic country, the politicians must work together to deliver on their promises and promote a corruption-free governance system. Controversies that taint the character of politicians as power-hungry and greedy erode the confidence of common man in a democracy as they never benefit from its real fruits. As the security situation improves in Pakistan, the government should strive to complete development projects and overcome the persistent energy crisis to achieve an economic turnaround. Pakistan does not need a new Turkish model of governance, but only a more committed and honest leadership to steer it away from its troubles.