DEMOCRACY has been compared to an organism that breathes with two lungs: the government and the opposition. The party that is in government, however, is behaving to the contrary, and seemingly considers the opposition not as political opponents but personal enemies.

The government has raised the level of its bellicosity. It has now started to call the PML-N leader traitor after labelling him and others thieves for the last two years.

A party that has formed government with a razor-thin majority should have a good working relationship with the opposition because it will need their help during important legislation, like the extension given to the army chief and the FATF bill, besides other important matters.

Seasoned commentators on Pakistan’s politics are of the opinion that the government seems to have outsourced the task of forcing the opposition into compliance to the ubiquitous establishment. Hence, the treasury can sit on its high pedestal and continue to persecute the opposition. This model of hybrid democracy does not seem sustainable in the long run.

Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2020