Political rumblings

SOME game is afoot. What precisely it is, is difficult to say. Islamabad hums with rumours, half-truths and speculation. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court order to shift the ailing former prime minister Imran Khan from prison to hospital has further unsettled the political sphere.

Suddenly, every move is being dissected. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has chosen this opportunity to make good on his “tick tock, tick tock” threat to the PML-N, delivered earlier this month amidst a thorny general election in Azad Kashmir. His anger over poll irregularities appears to have brought him closer to the opposition benches.

A senior delegation of PPP leaders, including Mr Bhutto-Zardari himself, met the opposition leader in the National Assembly this Tuesday, ostensibly to seek ‘cooperation’ during parliamentary proceedings. The fruits of that meeting were evident in the NA session held the same day, when the PPP managed to compel the government to virtually suspend its legislative agenda.

A follow-up meeting between the PPP and opposition leaders on Wednesday was described as “a good start”, with the politicians agreeing to maintain contact and cooperate on legislative matters in parliament. A common agenda item was also agreed to, namely, reforms to the electoral process. Mr Bhutto-Zardari also chose the opportunity to ‘welcome’ the Supreme Court decision to move Mr Khan to hospital, describing it as “within the democratic tradition”.

The confrontation continued on Thursday, with the PPP chief excoriating the government for not taking ruling allies on board while legislating after the defence minister presented two ‘surprise’ bills for approval. PPP leaders say the party is annoyed over what it sees as rampant rigging in the AJK polls, the PML-N’s refusal to honour various agreements with its coalition partner, the issue of new provinces, and fresh legislation the N-League wishes to table. The PPP appears intent on thwarting legislative business until its grievances are addressed.

Whether a new legislative surprise — of the constitutional variety — is ready to be sprung upon the nation, it is difficult to say. For that same reason, it is difficult to fathom whether the political factions are realigning to protect their shared interests, or merely to give the ruling PML-N a much-needed reminder of the ephemerality of political power. Whatever the case, it is encouraging to see legislators assert themselves after a period in which parliament appeared to be running on autopilot.

Coalition politics necessarily involves bargaining and disagreement; what matters is whether such manoeuvring produces more accountable parliamentary government, rather than simply redistributing political leverage. If the current rumblings can compel public representatives to engage more seriously with the business of legislation and the concerns of their constituents, and force open debate on matters of national import, they may yet prove a good omen for parliamentary politics.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2026