PTI's flip-flopping

The way it has been dealing with such an important matter as the nomination of caretaker chief ministers for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI has demonstrated its acts before thinking, also proving its rivals right who call it a master of U-turns. Punjab being the real battleground in the upcoming general elections, discussions between Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the provincial assembly, PTI's Mehmoodur Rashid, were expected to be rough. Surprising, nonetheless, it proved to be a smooth affair, i.e., until after the announcement was made that the two sides had agreed on the name of Nasir Mehmood Khosa, a retired senior bureaucrat, proposed by the PTI. It did not take long for the party to go back on its own choice, citing adverse reaction in the media as well as within the party. Which clearly showed it had not done the necessary homework. It ended up embarrassing itself and the nominee. Although the government stood by its decision, Khosa declined the offer saying PTI's sudden "change of heart" and withdrawal of support had made him a controversial figure in media.
The party's next move also turned out to be careless. It came up with two new names, a former KP inspector general of police, Nasir Durrani, and a well-regarded analyst and author, Professor Hassan Askari Rizvi. The former excused himself citing health reasons, which meant the PTI had nominated him without his consent - something unexpected from any responsible person or group, particularly a major political party. In its own ruled province of KP, too, it managed to create an unsavoury situation. Three days after announcing Manzoor Afridi's name as CM, it changed its mind, saying he had become controversial because an opposition party had levelled serious allegations against him. The excuse seemed rather flimsy considering that, as per the set procedure, the Opposition and the government had nominated Afridi for the position. Nominations and retractions have been bad enough. But in a different case the behaviour was no less thoughtless. Last Thursday, PTI Chairman was pictured welcoming into his party Farooq Bandial, a suspected rapist who was awarded death sentence in 1979 along with four others for committing armed robbery at famous film actress Shabnam's home. Within hours, he was expelled as social media went viral taking the party to task for accepting a convicted criminal into its fold.
For a political party to be sensitive to public opinion is a good thing. But when it comes to making important decisions, it must lead rather than be led. For the sake of its own credibility, the PTI needs to take a hard look at its recent conduct. Mistakes can be made once in a while, but repeating them is a sign of immaturity. Since it considers itself the government in waiting it is all the more important for it to have a no-nonsense decision-making process.