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A worsening political crisis is hitting Pakistan that is increasingly polarized, institutions are brittle, and the ruling coalition and opposition have stalled, leaving the country unable to break its political impasse. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan quit negotiations with the government and accused it of political manipulation as well as distrust. The political deadlock in Pakistan intensified after this decision, leaving governance, economic recovery and security challenges unresolved.
Political Polarization and PTI’s Role
Pakistan’s democracy is dominated by political polarization. We have seen historically; that political parties have indeed treated governance as a zero-sum game that pursues competing short-term electoral gains at the cost of long-term stability. In 2018, PTI came to power promising accountability and reform, and set itself up as a disruptor of the political status quo. Nevertheless, its tenure was afflicted with governance failures, a declining economy and a bad relationship with state institutions.
PTI lost government power through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in April 2022 after which Imran Khan initiated open confrontation against the ruling coalition. Tensions erupted with the coalition government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with mass protests, calls for early elections and accusations of a “foreign conspiracy”. PTI’s refusal of talks added fuel to the fire and stopped any attempts to resolve the country’s deepening economic and security crisis.
The Importance of Political Dialogue
Political deadlocks in fragile democracies such as Pakistan are mainly resolved through negotiation. Dialogue builds consensus, alleviates polarization and ensures that national priorities are the center of attention. Pakistan’s political elite however have often used negotiation as a tool to settle scores but rarely to forge reconciliation. PTI’s decision to abandon talks is part of a larger inability of political actors to accommodate each other, putting at risk institutional efficiency.
PTI validated its pullout by implicating the government of political manipulation and insincerity. But, with this decision, PTI has been pushed to the backseat of the constructive opposition and it has been sidelined from playing a role in influencing key policies. The parliament has been paralyzed without dialogue, impeding it from passing necessary legislation or approving the reforms as demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Without functioning institutions, and no end to governance paralysis in sight, Pakistan’s public skepticism towards democracy will continue to increase.
PTI’s Strategy: Political Rhetoric or Reform?
PTI asserts that its boycott comes from its commitment to reform and the rejection of a corrupt political system. But PTI’s critics said the party’s approach emphasizes political rhetoric over concrete reform. The case for undergoing early elections led by Imran Khan lacks appreciation for the wider problems that political instability creates. The nation’s historical record demonstrates how unscheduled elections lacking institutional support tend to worsen political rifts instead of creating solutions.
PTI’s withdrawal from political participation creates isolation, which reduces the party’s control of governance and weakens its advocacy capabilities on behalf of its supporters. Such an approach is concerning because it raises questions about whether PTI really wants reform which is meaningful or it is poorly in need of cementing its political base.
Consequences of the Political Deadlock
The fractious relationship between PTI and the ruling coalition has huge implications for Pakistan’s governance, economy and security.
Governance and Institutional Paralysis
Key institutions have become ineffective because of the lack of political dialogue. The parliament has become nonfunctional as a forum for legislation and debate, whereas provincial governments are struggling to deliver basic services. Due to a lack of political will to decentralize, the local government structures which have a bearing on the addressing of grassroots concerns remain underutilized.
Economic Instability
Political instability has piled further upon Pakistan’s economic challenges, including inflation, currency depreciation and dwindling foreign reserves. Reforms demanded by the IMF that are critical to the release of critical financial assistance have been stalled by delays in their implementation. Pakistan without solid consensus on economic policy, faces default on its debt obligations, and its high unemployment continues to worsen, further diminishing the confidence of investors.
Security Concerns
The resurgence of militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan is proof that there is an overwhelming need for an integrated security strategy. The political polarization, however, has fractured the leadership and has robbed it of its ability to take coordinated action against these threats. This situation creates instability in border regions while threatening national security.
International Repercussions
Due to its prolonged political deadlock, Pakistan has experienced damaged international repute. The current crisis has caused donors together with strategic partners to see Pakistan’s systemic instability which decreases its ability to secure foreign investment along with favorable trade agreements.
Comparative Lessons from South Asia
Pakistan’s crisis is not unique. Other South Asian countries have gone through similar problems and thus provide a good example of how to solve such political stalemates.
Bangladesh:
During the 2014 elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chose to boycott, which resulted in prolonged chaos and institutional erosion. The crisis has shown the need for creating an inclusive dialogue and credible electoral processes in order not to alienate the voice of the opposition.
Sri Lanka
The 2022 economic collapse revealed how governance inaction and delays with reforms create dangerous situations. Sri Lanka’s experience emphasizes putting economic stability first rather than getting caught in political rivalries during crises.
These cases show that measures that engage democratic institutions in ways that promote institutional reform, inclusive dialogue and leadership responsibility are a prerequisite to resolving political crises. To survive its current challenges, Pakistan must learn from these lessons.
Charting a Course for Reconciliation and Reform
Pakistan’s political deadlock requires a comprehensive, multipronged, well-rounded strategy to break it, one that will address the cause of polarization and governance failure at its root. Reconciliation and reform that is sustainable requires all political actors and stakeholders to prioritize the country’s stability over vested short-term gains.
Restoring Dialogue
Strictly speaking, dialogue has been the cornerstone of any democratic resolution, but it has been repeatedly ignored in Pakistan’s political arena. The prolonged confrontation is in no one’s interest, neither of PTI nor the ruling coalition, both must realize this, and that is the only way forward. Both sides should come to an agreement over a framework for structured negotiations, instead of getting involved in public blame games. The judiciary together with reputable civil society figures can act as mediators who guarantee the process maintains impartiality while maintaining transparency.
Strengthening Institutions
The lack of strong institutions makes Pakistan’s political and economic crises even worse. One of the requirements for stabilizing governance is transforming leadership styles from charismatic and personalistic to structural democratic ones. Empowering Parliament, local governments, and independent oversight bodies fosters accountability and inclusivity, mitigating polarization.
Addressing Economic Challenges
Sober consensus on economic reforms is essential to stabilizing Pakistan’s economy. Political stability cannot delay economic recovery — it is inextricably intertwined. Economic problems cannot be solved without bipartisan cooperation and national unity. Rather than partisan agendas, political leaders must put fiscal discipline, poverty alleviation and job creation on the top of the list.
Engaging Civil Society
Civil society acts as the indispensable link between political actors and citizens in easing the trust deficit between them. Civil society organizations (CSOs) can help communication, accountability and reconciliation and promote a more participatory democracy by leveraging them.
A political deadlock exists in Pakistan because its institutions remain weak and political hostility remains high while governance performance continues to fall short. The political decision of PTI to exit negotiations has made Pakistan’s existing challenges even worse. To break this impasse, we now need strong leadership, dialogue, and people that put the nation first not the party.
By learning from its past and drawing on comparative experiences from the region, Pakistan can chart a path toward reconciliation, reform, and resilience.
[Photo by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, via Wikimedia Commons]
Adan Mirza is a doctoral candidate in Peace and Conflict Studies at CIPS, NUST, Islamabad, and specializes in human security in conflict zones. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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