PRIME MINISTER Imran Khan is under pressure. As political developments unfold at a quickening pace and the opposition appears to be finalising its vote of no-confidence move against Mr Khan, it is becoming increasingly obvious that the PTI government is faced with its gravest crisis since it assumed power in 2018. If the party was feeling the heat at the federal level, it is now up against a major challenge in Punjab too.

On Monday, the disgruntled Jahangir Khan Tareen group scored a major victory when Mr Khan’s close aide and former senior minister of Punjab Abdul Aleem Khan joined it. Speaking to the media after the group’s meeting, Aleem Khan made little attempt to hide his disillusionment with the state of affairs under the PTI government. With the JKT group’s numbers swelling, it appears that if they pull back support for the Usman Buzdar government in Punjab, it could be in serious trouble.

The centre and Punjab heating up simultaneously is no coincidence. The opposition wants to pile maximum pressure on the government through the numbers game in the assemblies and via the PPP’s long march that is scheduled to reach Rawalpindi and Islamabad today.

Mr Khan’s incendiary speech in Mailsi over the weekend is being seen in the context of this increasing pressure on the government. The prime minister used harsh language against his opponents that was unbecoming of a person holding such a high office. He also piled on criticism of the EU and the US at a time when Pakistan needs to balance its relationship between the West and Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. The undiplomatic attack by the prime minister may create diplomatic problems for Pakistan and it is rather unfortunate that his advisers could not convince him to not take such a harsh position publicly.

That said, Mr Khan’s strong language and intemperate tone may suggest that he is keeping an eye on the electorate and the narrative that he may choose were he to hit the election campaign trail at some point. Even if that is the case, the prime minister needs to review his stance and his choice of words.

Every sentence he utters may be seen as policy and this requires him to be more circumspect in expressing his sentiments. Statesmanship requires greater control on emotions and a more restrained approach towards those who have a different view of things.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2022