Spotlight: Straws in the post-elections wind!: From high up on 'cloud nine' down to earth with a jarring jolt!

Who would have thought Nawaz Sharif would be up to his neck in problems so soon after riding the crest of a wave which brought him unprecedented political success and absolute majority in the Parliament? Hardly had the kudos on his election successes and his statesmanlike handling of government formation in KP and Balochistan died down when comments started appearing in the Media (for all to hear and see for themselves) how tense and worried he looked in his various appearances in public or in meetings.
SO YOU LIKE A HAPPY FACE? Don't lose heart! The silver lining is that someone as high up as the PM himself is actually worried about what is happening in the country and wants to do something about it. For over half a decade now we have been accustomed to seeing the country, its people, its economy, its security, its reputation and everything else that matters to an independent country, going down the drain without affecting toothy smiles on faces of our rulers! So the worry on the face of PM Nawaz is something to be thankful for. Someone is trying to mind the store!
LOADSHEDDING After the initial exuberant promises by Shahbaz (somewhat though not quite a la Raja Rental), a more realistic stance was taken by Nawaz, while Khwaja Asif poured cold water on high expectations by declaring that the end of loadshedding may not be reached soon. Still, PM Nawaz's dash to Azad Kashmir to chair a meeting on Rs 275 billion Neelum-Jhelum project and his directive to the project authorities to complete the 969 MW project (started 29 years ago without much to show by way of progress except cost escalation) by 2015, is good news. The suffering populace would forgive a great deal and would be ready to endure more with greater fortitude if they see serious and sustained action by all involved to rectify negligence of the past half of a decade in enhancing our power production capacity.
STRAIGHT TALK BY CHAUDHRY NISAR Many looked askance at Chaudhry Nisar's comments on the disgraceful, inhuman and traitorous attacks, one at the heels of another, on a hospital and women's college and destruction of a national relic with deep association with Quaid-e-Azam. Chaudhry had wondered aloud at the failure of the Police, the FC and our intelligence agencies to detect through information sharing and other means the well planned attacks in time to prevent them thus allowing terrorists and saboteurs to continue to strike at targets of their choosing at the time of their choosing. After all he is the Minister of interior! Let us see how the Chaudhry now goes about setting things right. Another straight talk on Karachi killings by Chaudhry Nisar holding out the possibility of Federal intervention was soon back tracked when questions on interference in a Provincial subject were raised. However, if the provincial government fails its responsibility year after year, surely the Federation has to intervene to save the situation and protect people's lives. Chaudhry (what a change from Malik) lost no time in ordering suspension of Chief Secretary and IG of Gilgit on another horrific incident in which nine tourists were targeted and killed despite the fact that news of the possibility of such an attempt had been received.
THY WILL BE DONE IMF! Are there no wise men left in the government or no one cares to consult them? How else would one explain the GST fiasco? How could a populace already made miserable by all sorts of problems and deprivations have stomach for yet another price rise cycle? Perhaps FM Dar's famous insight into what would induce IMF to relent and fill our begging bowl again with another soft loan (to pay back previous loans and interest) tilted the issue in favour of another one percent rise in GST. The public furore and the opposition's happiness in finding so soon a stick to beat the new government with, could have been foreseen and steps taken to explain the necessity to the people and to thus limit the backlash. Then the Supreme Court threw a spanner: how can you enhance and begin to collect a tax without the Parliament enacting the change? Yes, said the new Attorney General, an amendment exists, which allows the government to do so in the interim period. Nothing doing thundered the Supreme Court: a law passed in violation of a fundamental part of the constitution has no validity. Back to square one? Not at all! The necessary legislation will be enacted in due course and GST at 17% will be restored. How else would the country escape bankruptcy? Thy will be done IMF! More loans will come and loan paybacks and interest payments will continue at least for the foreseeable future. Good old Kushkole is secure for now!
MQM'S PROBLEMS News about London police investigations on Dr Farooq's murder case continues to make headlines every few weeks. It is also looking at a money laundering case in the offing, it is said. While MQM offices and some residences were visited earlier, during the week more residences, one of which is said to belong to MQM Chief, were searched for long hours under a search warrant by staff including forensic specialists. MQM has troubles of its own at home too. Still in the opposition, its overtures to PML-N are reported to have not received an encouraging response and the possibility of rejoining old friends PPP in Sindh government are presumably blocked by old disagreement on the form of the City Government in Karachi. Effects of the party restructuring are still not very clear. The results of the intra-party "referendum" on the subject were held in abeyance following the dastardly killing of MQM MPA Qureshi and his son on Friday as they left the mosque after saying Friday prayers. The party is in a state of shock. The Yaum-e-Sog again shut down business in Karachi affecting the livelihood of millions. Targeted killings of two PTI MPAs in KP in recent days have underlined the magnitude of the problem but Peshawar did not shut shop. The situation in Karachi as in several other parts of the country remains fluid. Let us see if a degree of normalcy is achieved as new governments in Islamabad and Provincial capitals settle down to the business of governing.
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