DESPITE drama worthy of a political thriller, the system seems to have scraped through — with a significant bruise or two, but largely intact. The judiciary sent home an elected prime minister and the timing of the first replacement candidate’s arrest warrant was a reminder that Pakistani democracy still treads on dangerous ground. But ultimately a new prime minister was elected with relatively little fuss, and even faced a competitor from within parliament. No assemblies were dissolved and no constitution violated, at least not by the khakis, who stayed inside their barracks this time despite having moved in on the basis of much less upheaval and discontent in the past. For that, and for the maturity shown by most major political parties, this should be a moment of celebration for Pakistani democrats.

Be that as it may, the nomination of Raja Pervez Ashraf was a snub to millions of citizens who are suffering hours of loadshedding in the Pakistani summer. In the face of electricity cuts, the former water and power minister was an insensitive choice — and an unwise one, in an election year — sending a signal that the PPP is unconcerned about one of the nation’s most painful problems. Political considerations were obviously at stake: the preferences of coalition partners, not wanting to send a more useful politician to the gallows, and other calculations the president may have made. All of this has signalled that the PPP is either more concerned about political strategy than the people or is entirely out of touch with the people’s needs.

To prove itself worthy of re-election, the party now needs to reorder its priorities and take some immediate and concrete action on the governance front. In particular, Mr Ashraf will have to take noticeable steps to alleviate the energy problem. The challenges are difficult, but that is no excuse; in making some landmark constitutional amendments, the party has demonstrated that when it wants to it can produce both vision and the ability to get things done. For the few months — or weeks, or days, depending on how the Supreme Court proceeds — that the PPP-led government has left, it owes it to the country to at least try to improve the day-to-day realities of life in Pakistan. Meanwhile, despite the precedent it has set, the SC needs to give the executive a chance. Sending the new prime minister packing too will only worsen the clash between institutions and disrupt the system again. Pakistan has weathered one crisis; let’s focus on constructive action instead.