While the opposition’s threat of a no-confidence move might have given sleepless nights to the government leaders, the opposition’s efforts in that direction spread over a month have so far met with little success. The opposition leaders have held talks with government allies to convince them that supporting the move was the best way to save the country and salvage their own reputation. The suggestion was not altogether rejected by the PML(Q) or the MQM who conceded that it was becoming increasingly difficult to defend the government over the unprecedented and unending rise in prices. Both however told the opposition to wait and let them consult their parties. The opposition has simultaneously approached the PTI dissidents. Despite claims that over two score PTI MNAs were waiting to jump the ship, when push came to shove none seemed to be willing to support the no-confidence move. As predicted earlier by a PML(N) leader, a vote of no-confidence could not succeed in a hybrid democracy.
This must not lead the government to feel elated as the remaining part of PTI’s tenure is going to be full of potentially destabilizing challenges. The government is already facing the repercussions of its unfortunate decision to further strengthen the notorious Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). As a result, it has invited the fury of the legal community, working journalists, media owners and civil society organizations. Even the Attorney General has called the Peca Ordinance a draconian measure in its present form. Any government move to step back on the Ordinance would be considered a sign of its weakness, further encouraging its opponents to mount fresh attacks.
The international crisis caused by the Russian action on Ukraine is bound to affect countries like Pakistan already battered by the pandemic, supply chain chokeholds and leaps in prices. Pakistan depends on the supply of wheat from Ukraine and Russia. With an expected drop of up to 15 percent in the domestic wheat yield due to shrinking acreage, poor application of fertilizer, water scarcity, limited certified seeds, and so on, Pakistan will have to import costlier wheat from these countries while they are embroiled in war. As a result of the crisis, petrol prices too are bound to rise further with an attendant hike in prices of commodities of daily use, adding to the challenges faced by the government.
