Election saga and dearth of political vision

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senior leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui told the media that his party will unveil its written manifesto in the next two days. Senator Siddiqui claimed that the PML-N would win the general elections based on its commendable performance in the previous tenures. PML-N would come to power through popular vote, resolve the issues of common men, and remove the sense of deprivation among the people living in remote areas.

The magnificent electoral campaigns of all major political parties including the PML-N, PPP, MQM, PTI, PML-Q, and other regional civic groups are currently underway across the country. The civic groups and their leaders blatantly made unachievable announcements, false claims, and unreal promises to attract the public and appease their voters ahead of a crucial vote scheduled for the next month. Interestingly, the PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party, once coalition partners against the PTI government have now taken front against each other in the ongoing election campaign.

The PPP has brought forward a 10-point agenda for the economic uplift of the country and the public. Bilawal vowed to double the wages and provide 300 units free of cost electricity to the poor. The PPP announced the devolvement of 17 ministries that will add Rs. 300 billion to the national exchequer. The Muslim League Nawaz perceived a counter-narrative to berate its political adversary through the launch of a written manifesto on an urgent basis.

The slogans of free-of-cost electricity, free education, and healthcare, construction of homes for the poor, and issuance of subsidy cards for laborers, farmers, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are gaining popularity and each leader uses the same recipe to garner people sympathy.

Our politicians trade in blame games and accusations instead of focusing on national issues, the economy, terrorism, foreign policy, population planning, rural development, urban planning, etc. Unfortunately, no political group has a strategy to tackle a derailed economy, revive the industry, and boost growth in a crises-hit nation.

Historically, such kingly policies of successive Pakistani governments have brought the nation to this day that every institution is degraded and each aspect of the national life needs attention from the rulers. If Pakistani leaders retain such a pro-publica attitude and nation savouriness throughout the year, the country can achieve its destiny in days and months instead of years and decades.