THE incarcerated former prime minister has faced numerous ups and downs across his political career. Like most politicians, he has been critical of the establishment’s interference in political affairs and he has also enjoyed being on the same page with the establishment.

Amid these shifting stands, he has struggled to establish a consistent political vision, leading to confusion among party leaders and supporters regarding how to effectively engage in the political process.

This lack of clarity has been evident in the recent deliberations surrounding the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, and its ultimate passage through parliament. The opposition party expressed concerns on the matter, but failed to counter the proposals in a legal context. It never engaged in any meaningful debate.

Instead of going for a legal, political struggle, it continued to rely on street power, neglecting existing political aven-ues. The refusal to shift from its power circle to the available political space limited the party’s potential for progress.

The situation the party faces today is not unique in Pakistan; many others encoun-tered similar challenges at various points in national history. However, unlike the current opposition, the other parties rec-ognised their given space, and attempted to navigate their struggles within those limitations.

The current opposition, on the other hand, continues to cling to the concept of a power circle, and has not learned to effectively utilise the political space available to it. There is a clear lack of strategic thinking within the party.

Usama Khalid
Seoul, South Korea

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024