PTI panics as opposition hints at new Charter of Democracy

By Ather Naqvi –

The opposition has pulled up its socks for launching an agitation against the PTI government just after eid-ul-fitr. The iftar dinner arranged by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari recently gave a clear message to the government — no more smooth sailing. The timing of the coming together of the political parties could not be more correct. At a time when the government is neck-deep in the economic mess and life for the common man is becoming harder by the day, drawing the battle lines seems to be the right decision.

Still, it would be expecting too much from the opposition’s platform at the moment. Leaders of both the PPP and the PML-N have already made it clear that they do not aim to bring down the government, even though it is crippling under its own weight of ruining the economy.

Whatever the outcome, for now the PTI government has visibly panicked. The statements coming out from the federal information minister, Firdous Ashiq Awan and federal minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed in the wake of the meeting, are enough reflection on the government’s knee-jerk reaction to a gathering that did not directly threaten the government.

Having said that, the gathering of the opposition parties was a huge success in terms of showing solidarity against a government which came into existence promising a change for the better but has so far added to people’s problems. The images of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman PPP and Maryam Nawaz, senior PML-N leader and Nawaz Sharif’s daughter make a huge symbolic value. The two main political parties of the country, previously at daggers drawn against each other, have now left their past behind and claim to be working for a better future for Pakistan.