Ruling party rifts

E-Paper | February 23, 2026

CLASSIC signs of a leadership vacuum are emerging in the cabinet’s ranks. Ministers are openly talking about their inability to deliver on key objectives in their areas of responsibility, and pointing fingers at their colleagues and other government departments as the reason.

A blame game amongst the ministers, poor performance and mounting frustration make the government appear disarticulated, uncoordinated, and increasingly factionalised.

The ministers of petroleum and water and power have both launched a broadside against the Planning Commission and two regulators, saying they are working at odds with the objectives of the government, and in some cases, even pursuing personal goals.

Take a look: Rift surfaces in govt over handling of uplift projects

The Planning Commission has shot back that it will continue to monitor the implementation of public-sector development projects without granting any favours, and carry on with overseeing the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects without succumbing to pressure.

Meanwhile the Punjab chief minister has made public his opposition to the finance minister’s pet proposal of a withholding tax on bank transactions by non-filers of income tax returns.

A complex jigsaw of factionalism and internal rivalry within the ruling party is revealing itself, with reports of important differences between the Punjab chief minister and the finance minister, and between these two versus the ministers of petroleum and water and power.

The Planning Commission, by virtue of being the focal ministry for all CPEC projects, is caught in the crossfire. Whatever the state of the ‘palace intrigue’ may be, it is disheartening to see it breaking into full public view with such bombast — because it clearly suggests that the biggest victim will be governance. This kind of factionalism is highly destructive, and can easily lead different parties to start playing an obstructionist role in each other’s affairs rather than focusing on their objectives.

The prime minister should realise that such frustrations need to be nipped in the bud before they become unmanageable, assuming they haven’t reached that point already.

Ironically enough, the latest salvo in this war of words amongst his own cabinet members was fired when the prime minister was in Sheikhupura, telling a crowd that his government would eliminate the power crisis during its five-year term and the opposition should not play an obstructionist role in this ambition.

Given what was going on in Islamabad even as he spoke these words, it seems that the opposition need not do a thing to obstruct this goal.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2015

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Newspaper

Hollow applause

Delayed appointment

Fragile equilibrium

Gramscian

Oct 12, 2015 03:17am

This is what happens when you run a country like family business without merit and accountability. As far as ending energy crisis in 5 years is concerned, we have heard that before.

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Wali

Oct 12, 2015 10:13am

The failure is clearly due to lack of leadership right at the top of the government and responsibility lies with the PM. He shows no leadership, enthusiasm, and despite being PM 3 times ahs not learnt from the past mistakes. The modicum of order that appears in Pakistan right now is only because of the Military - much as any democracy loving citizen would hate to hail Gen. Raheel and Army being hailed as savior of Pakistan!

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Fawad Ali Shah

Oct 12, 2015 11:55am

This is what happens when family and personal loyalty takes precedence over merit and competence.

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Oct 12, 2015 01:53pm

I take it very positive though..... In professional technocrat departments difference of opinions are common where every department is trying to achieve their targets.

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salman

Oct 12, 2015 02:54pm

IK is on completely the wrong track...left to his own devices, Nawaz tends to self-destruct. We don't need dharnas and go Nawaz go. Mian sahib will dig his own hole. Just leave him alone to get on with it :)

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Fazl Rab

Oct 13, 2015 03:27am

Not NS but his brother had stated publicly that he would eliminate power shortage within 06 months otherwise he would change his name. To what? He did not say. PTI shd present a copy of it to NS unless he disowns Shahbaz Sharif.

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Javaid Bashir

Oct 13, 2015 05:36am

Excellent editorial. You have hit the nail on the head. We have a government of diverse individual interest. The cabinet is dysfunctional because there are too many cooks spoiling the broth. It is gone taste sour. The minister of Power and water has already expressed his inability to perform due to interference by the Punjab Chief Minister. The rift between the two has been on for quite sometime. The best thing would be to elevate C.M to the federal minister and given the portfolio of Power and water to end this problem. Planning Commission should keep on doing its Job fearlessly. Nawaz Sharif is running the federal government as family business. This is bound to happen when cronyism, and incompetency are promoted. I rest my case here.

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Javaid Bashir

Oct 13, 2015 05:39am

@JV It is not the difference of opinion , it is lust for power and personal interest that matters here. They are not concerned with healthy competition.

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SFA

Oct 13, 2015 03:39pm

@Fazl Rab During the election campaign, IK claimed he would end corruption in KPK in 90 days. Later Pervez Khattak boasted he would do so in only 9 days. I wonder if KPK has now become the world's first corruption-free state, as promised by PTI. The fact is: PTI has delivered NOTHING to write home about and has taken its electorate for a ride in the same way as PML-N and PPP do.

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Prometheus

Oct 13, 2015 04:05pm

The Dilemma is like "Old Wine in new bottle". PMLN has always come to power with 2/3 majority (somehow), therefore, most of their time has been spent in relaxation or fulfillment of personal goals! If they ever came to power with simple majority perhaps they would have worked hard for their survival. Most of their productive time is spent in mobilizing media buying, Institutional buying and keeping the road so called smooth-the proof of which is that in their 34 years of political history not a single verdict from any court has ever come against them! Judge for yourselves!

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