A narrow save
FOR 21 deliveries, the whole of Pakistan held its breath. After the opening match in the two-match Test series had ended in a draw, New Zealand were a wicket away from winning the second Test. But, in fading light at Karachi’s National Stadium, Pakistan’s tailenders Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed would defy New Zealand to end this home season with a draw. Had Sarfraz Ahmed, making a comeback after four years on the sidelines of the playing XI, not scored a magnificent century in Pakistan’s fourth innings, it wouldn’t have even got that close. It was a face-saving draw under thrilling circumstances, but the reality is that it means Pakistan are now winless in eight Tests at home having earlier lost three-Test series to both Australia and England. That fact was not lost on captain Babar Azam, who admitted that his side had not met expectations. Pakistan don’t have another Test at home this year and it remains to be seen what the shape of the side is when they next play a game in the longest format of cricket.
Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads since the recent upheaval in the country’s cricket board. An interim management committee has taken over control of the Pakistan Cricket Board and rumours are rife that Babar’s Test captaincy is in doubt. In Babar’s defence, he’s been left shorthanded by the loss of several key players, especially in the bowling department, to injuries. Those injuries have raised concerns over the nature of pitches Pakistan produced throughout the season; batting tracks where bowlers toiled. There have also been issues with form, especially with opener Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood, both of whom failed to get big scores. In Sarfraz and spinner Abrar, though, Pakistan have gained some positives. Babar pleaded for time, and said a long-term plan was needed to change Pakistan’s Test approach. Removing him would be jumping the gun as much more is needed to revive Pakistan’s Test fortunes than just changing the leader.
Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2023
LG polls, finally
IF all goes according to plan, and no more spanners are thrown in the works, the second phase of Sindh’s long-delayed local government polls will be held next Sunday. The first phase was held in June of last year, but the second leg — to be conducted in Karachi and Hyderabad — has been delayed multiple times. While the initial delay was justified due to the unprecedented summer floods, subsequent postponements at the instigation of the Sindh government appeared suspicious, as if the ruling party in the province was trying to indefinitely delay this crucial democratic exercise. The fact is that the PPP-led Sindh administration is not alone in not wanting to hold LG polls, for the PTI and PML-N have shown similar disinterest in having an elected third tier in Punjab and Islamabad, respectively. But this time it appears that the LG polls will be held on schedule, as the chief election commissioner said on Friday that the elections in Sindh will not be delayed. The CEC was responding to a petition of the MQM-P, which is also pushing for a postponement for various reasons, including questions over electoral rolls and delimitation. However, in the view of the CEC, the MQM-P’s reservations were “irrelevant” and he instructed the Sindh government to arrange the security and logistics to ensure the polls are held on Jan 15.
The elected local bodies in Sindh were wrapped up in Aug 2020; and while under the law elections to the third tier are supposed to be held within 120 days after the expiry of the LGs’ tenure, Sindh has been without elected local bodies for nearly two-and-a-half years. The results of not having elected local representatives are clear across urban Sindh, particularly Karachi. Overflowing sewers, broken roads and crumbling infrastructure reflect the ruling party’s and the bureaucracy’s disinterest in this city. The PPP thinks a park here and a couple of dozen buses there can solve the megacity’s problems. Far from it; only elected and empowered local bodies can transform Karachi and the rest of Sindh into liveable 21st century urban spaces. The MQM may have a point about delimitations, but if we were to wait till these issues make their way through the legal labyrinth, the people of Sindh may be deprived of elected local representatives for an even longer period. Sindh needs an effective local government law, and empowered elected municipalities working under this system to deliver basic civic services to the people.
Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2023
Buzdar’s curse
IT appears that Chaudhry Parvez Elahi is not done running circles around the PTI. According to recent reports from Punjab, which has been in the throes of political turmoil ever since Usman Buzdar was told to pack up and step aside, the two coalition partners who form the provincial government are once again at a crossroads, with both trying their best to drag the other in a different direction.
Mr Khan, who remains intent on using every ploy in his playbook to force the federal government to close shop and call a general election, wants the PML-Q chief minister to take a vote of confidence and restore his power to dissolve the Punjab Assembly when he pleases. However, Mr Elahi, despite publicly posturing that his loyalties are with the PTI, now seems to have other plans.
It may be recalled that the Lahore High Court has barred the dissolution of the assembly at least till January 11, when it will next hear a petition against the Punjab governor’s removal of Mr Elahi from his office on the grounds that he failed to secure a vote of confidence within the stipulated time.
The PTI wants Mr Elahi to secure the vote of confidence before that to ensure he is in full control of his office when the court’s bar is lifted. However, Mr Elahi has taken to publicly disagreeing with that strategy, raising suspicions in the minds of PTI loyalists.
The PML-Q’s new tune is also raising doubts in Mr Khan’s mind regarding the establishment, which he believes may be dissuading his ally from disbanding the Punjab Assembly. Mr Elahi is certainly no stranger in Rawalpindi and has recently been passionate in his defence of the army’s past policies and leadership.
All of this has not gone down too well with the PTI’s second-tier leadership, which is growing resentful of the much smaller coalition partner. The Punjab chief minister has apparently been warned by the PTI chief that in case he fails to secure the vote, the PTI will resign from the Punjab legislature, leaving him without the numbers to remain relevant.
With the two parties playing cat and mouse, it is unclear what the future holds for Pakistan’s most chaotically ruled province. Punjab can trigger an electoral crisis that might break the PDM government’s back. With the federal government struggling under the weight of the PML-N’s incompetence in managing the ongoing economic crisis, it cannot go up against the PTI in an electoral contest. The ‘deep state’ also appears not to be ready to see Mr Khan march back into Islamabad, at least until its consequences are clear. With the country in the doldrums and no clear way out in sight, things may become worse before they get any better. Strap in for another bumpy ride.
Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2023