Academic and political scientist Dr Mohammad Waseem has on Wednesday said that Pakistan faces an acute crisis of leadership and narrative at the moment.
Speaking on Naya Daur TV’s flagship show Khabar Say Aagay (Beyond the Headlines), Waseem said there was some hope of normalcy to return to country after the elections, but if the same people come back to power with a similar alliance, there is little chance of improvement in the prevailing conditions.
“But in any case the establishment must go for elections to restore the status quo and bring some semblance of legitimacy to the national politics”, he added.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) failed miserably at the governance front and their candidates and leaders claim it has become almost impossible for them to go to their constituencies and ask for votes, Waseem said.
“No major party has an agenda. All they have is propaganda which they keep doing against each other. On that front, Nawaz Sharif has been absent from the scene for the last six years and his narrative is unlikely to sell right now and Imran Khan is dominating other parties on that front at the moment”, the professor said.
Dr Ayesha Siddiqa seconded Dr Waseem’s opinion that the military establishment was in a very tight spot. Their credibility is at stake and to save it, she added, the only way forward is a free and fair election.
Dr Siddiqa believed that Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was the flag-bearer of the anti-establishment narrative at the moment while the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz traditionally banked on an aggressive development agenda. “At this point, however, it will be difficult for Nawaz Sharif to go to the public and ask for votes”, she added.
Beyond the Headlines is hosted by Raza Rumi, ever Monday to Saturday at 9 PM (Pakistan Time).