In defence of prime minister

'The government has done many wonderful things, many usual governmental things and many stupid things. There are certain areas that imply that the prime minister does not govern. He hardly engages the opposition with respect; he has hardly done anything remarkable. Like his predecessors, he will hardly be remembered for any piece of legislation'

I am not addicted to WhatsApp surfing, but from time to time, I need to check different groups to be updated with current affairs. I am a reluctant member of more than two dozen groups, to which I was added without my permission. Most of the time, these groups are sharing the same things, such as breaking news tickers, memes, jokes, videos, etc. One thing, however, which is common in all these groups is that the incumbent government is the worst setup in our history. Four years ago, these members were convinced that the government of that time (which was of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz), was totally anti-people. If a new party runs the government after the 2023 elections, the group members are likely to judge them as another worst government of the day. That’s how WhatsApp groups chat and move on.

Leaving aside the doom and gloom scenarios painted in the WhatsApp world, today, let us dissect the government performance. The basic scales for such profundity can be high inflation rates, empty grocery shelves, all-time high petrol prices, foreign policies, coronavirus and domestic order.

The government is often blamed for inflicting higher rates of inflation. Well, when was the last time the country was without the throngs of the dearness? Inflation has never ever been an issue for a segment of society (read: the haves). Inflation has always been around for another segment of society (read: the have nots). Moreover, inflation is an international issue right now. Then a few group members keep on complaining about empty grocery shelves, which is sadly not close to reality for one part of Pakistan. Foreign policy: There is a usual business going on. Coronavirus is hardly an issue in Pakistan, thanks to smart lockdowns, our youth bulge, and the blessings of the Almighty. These groups represent the world where people exchange ideas on the new Audi models. Then they clamour about shelling out Rs6,000 to get their tanks full of petrol. A motorcyclist, who used to get a litre for Rs100 a couple of years ago, has every right to protest the increasing fuel prices. Again, the rising POL import bills defy the arguments of slowing down the economy or impacting people’s lifestyles.

On the whole, we are fast becoming a crowd of whiners. People cry when new models of imported cars are in short supply. We complain about the sad state of affairs where the department stores are out of imported bottled water. Well, in that case, local bottled water, mostly called mineral water, is not bad. Do these activists have the right to bash the government for its inability to control this and control that?

Last week, a leading English newspaper ran a lead story about the swelling current deficit account. I wonder when the paper came up with startling figures running a front-page story about the current deficit account during the last regime?

The government has done many wonderful things, many usual governmental things and many stupid things. There are certain areas that imply that the prime minister does not govern. He hardly engages the opposition with respect; he has hardly done anything remarkable. Like his predecessors, he will hardly be remembered for any piece of legislation.

Thank God, I did not watch his latest direct call session. It is unbecoming of a sitting president to incite his supporters to be violent with his adversaries. This destroys the norms of democracy.

Dear prime minister, we know many problems have stemmed from the pandemic, not your government policies. Still, there are many areas, which you cannot blame on the pandemic or your predecessors.