The political situation in Pakistan is in a state of flux. A wobbly PML-N government is growing weaker in the face of a worsening economic crisis, while the PTI and other opposition parties are gearing up to form a new grand alliance to challenge the ruling party.

A high-stakes power struggle between the government and the opposition is putting the country’s fragile democracy at risk. Add to this the prospects of violence and civil unrest due to raging inflation and unaffordable energy prices, and the picture is complete.

Imran Khan since he was ousted through a 2022 no-confidence vote, has gained in popularity especially because of the incompetence of the incumbent government in handling the economic situation. In the midst of the ongoing controversy over the results of the 2024 elections, ruling party leaders have been talking of banning the PTI. In response the latter has announced plans to form a grand coalition to oust the government from power. In the given circumstances, the PTI has been emboldened by the recent Supreme Court judgment on reserved seats in its favor.

In a bid to put pressure on the government, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has also announced its intentions to expand the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) platform and invite opposition forces, which are still not part of the alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, to join the anti-government movement. If the JI and JUI-F join the opposition alliance, the situation will become more favourable for the PTI as all three can gather massive crowds in upcoming rallies and jalsas. It is interesting to note that the PTI and JUI-F, previously arch-rivals, have been discussing ways to unite against the PML-N ruling alliance. Both sides in one voice have been expressing their doubts over the results of the February 8, 2024, general elections.

As the PTI prepares for major rallies in the coming weeks, senior party leader Asad Qaiser told the media that imprisoned party founder Imran Khan has approved the formation of the grand opposition alliance through expansion of the TTAP platform. “The PTI decided to expand the opposition alliance in a meeting with Imran Khan,” said Qaiser. He was speaking to the media outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail alongside the party’s secretary general Omar Ayub Khan and others.

The ex-speaker said that the former ruling party plans to unite all opposition parties for a robust anti-government movement, saying the power show in Swabi aimed to raise a strong voice for the release of the founding chairman and other detained PTI leaders. “This country will only be governed in accordance with the law and the Constitution,” he vowed.

Qaiser also criticised the incumbent government over rising electricity bills, saying that they were unacceptable for the inflation-hit masses. He expressed PTI’s support for Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Murree Road, protesting against the steep hike in power bills since July 26.

In the meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami dharna against inflation and high energy prices has become a big headache for the government. Several rounds of negotiations between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami have ended without any results. The stalling of talks came amid heightened tensions and sharp criticism of government policies by Jamaat-e-Islami leaders. JI’s former emir Sirajul Haq addressing the sit-in participants criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him not to “wait for dead bodies to fall” and warned that the party would not be intimidated. “If our workers are mistreated, we are ready to respond in kind,” Haq declared, highlighting the party’s resolve to continue their protest. Haq also criticised what he described as widespread corruption among the ruling elite. On the other hand, JI chief Hafiz Naeem has vowed to expand protest if their demands are not met. He also emphasized that the protest would not conclude until their objectives are achieved.

As things stand, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s government is determined to maintain its grip on power. Political observers apprehend that the hard stand taken by the government and the opposition could escalate into a full-blown crisis. As the country is experiencing an acute economic crisis, with high inflation, increasing unemployment, and a weakening currency, political instability will worsen matters.

In the opinion of some observers, the whole thing boils down to the fundamental flaws in the existing power structure – the imbalance in civil-military relations. The country has always suffered from lack of genuine democracy and genuine political leadership. The experience with hot house politicians has been an unpleasant one and must be done away with. Politicians approved by the establishment with limited mandate have never delivered for the welfare of the people. All said, free and fair elections and full powers vested in the elected representatives are the only way out of the current impasse.