‘KARMA’ is a word adopted comfortably by those who speak the English language. So much so that there is a well-known phrase which uses the word. Rude and unsuitable for the newspaper, the phrase, however, means the same thing as the word itself. But for the purposes of this piece, let us just use another phrase which conveys the same meaning, far more politely: ‘what goes around comes around’.

However, I digress. The point is that karma or the more pompous ‘what goes around…’ comes to mind while watching the PTI go on the rampage as the PML-N struggles to manage the economy. There is little, it seems to distinguish Shaukat Tarin, Hammad Azhar and Imran Khan from Miftah Ismail, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Shehbaz Sharif in the 2018-22 period. If one lot is speaking about the mess that is the economy, entirely due to the predecessor, and the absence of choices, the other is bashing mehngai (high prices), petrol and electricity hikes.

This role reversal is but inevitable.

After five years of relentless attacks from the PTI, when the PML-N lost power and was replaced by the former, the economy’s downslide had begun. And as the PTI tried to figure out what to do, the PML-N went on the offensive. It had suffered a similar attack itself and, in addition, the PTI did make its fair share of mistakes and then some, such as the confusion and delay over approaching the IMF.

The PML-N has been bitten where it hurts and the PTI is chortling but these roles could be reversed.

However, over time, the criticism became black and white, creating a perception that the ills of the economy were simply because of the PTI’s ‘incompetence’ and ‘inexperience’. And as a story it sold well to the people and the media — partly because of the polarisation and partly because we, as a society, don’t want to accept the problems and their solutions.

And so a myth or hope was created of a quick turnaround once the PML-N was back at the helm of affairs. In a way, it was quite similar to folklore where the illegitimate rulers bring misfortune to the land and its people, which is turned into ‘lived happily ever after’ once the rightful rulers win back their kingdom.

Read: Cosying up to establishment proved ‘kiss of death’ for PML-N

Perhaps this is one reason why someone, somewhere thought up a cunning plan — to carry out a vote of no confidence. And now the PML-N is in power.

But instead of Prince Charming, we still have an ogre in power who speaks of taxes, price hikes and difficult decisions. And just like in the PTI days, there are whispers about discontent within the Noonies’ ranks about mehngai, facing people in constituencies and possible election defeats.

One can only hope the Supreme Court ruling will keep panicked parliamentarians from switching sides, arguing they did so because constituents cannot be faced.

It is so much like the Tom and Jerry cartoons, where one episode sees Tom beating the daylights out of Jerry while in the other Jerry gets his revenge. In other words, karma has now bitten the PML-N where it hurts and the PTI is chortling all the way to the talk shows and social media.

But these roles could be reversed once again. Elections have to be held sooner rather than later and the PTI is as hopeful of winning them as the Noon is fearful of losing them. And then what will Khan do?

So far, there is little indication the PTI has done any homework on the economy. Its rhetoric offers little hope in terms of a strategy for it focuses on the management during Covid-19 and the growth in exports. But what else? Especially when the days of Covid spending are over and exports may slow down due to the global recession? Karma will creep up on the PTI the way it did on PML-N. Then what?

At the moment, the PTI doesn’t seem to care because political point-scoring is more important. The PML-N was no different. This partly happens because of the ‘Lord of the Flies’ situation, compelling the parties to believe their survival is dependent on the elimination of the other. If each party is constantly struggling to stay in the game, it is hardly going to be ready to make tough decisions which can cost it the next election.

So far, both the PTI and PML-N have done exactly this. The only difficult decisions both have taken are the ones forced upon them by donors. Other, more difficult, decisions elude all the parties. And there is little to indicate this is about to change. This is why these notions of a charter of economy seem as fanciful as the dreams each party is selling to its supporters when out of power.

Editorial: Economic uncertainty

The charter seems to be based on the assumption that the parties will be able to take politics out of the economic realm while continuing with business as usual in the others. It sounds about as logical as the idea that technocrats in charge of the economy can lead it, while the parties slug it out in talk shows and jalsas. But what will they blame each other for then? Or offer to the populace to choose them in the polls? Arif Naqvi or the Avenfield apartments? Or will the political contest be reduced to who is a better Muslim or who is a traitor?

Indeed, the political parties need to first create an internal consensus on what needs to be done to fix the economy and the price those in power will have to pay before they hold forth on charters and economic consensus. The internal criticism directed against the likes of Miftah Ismail and Hafeez Shaikh is proof enough of that.

And if there are still some aficionados of a charter of economy left, perhaps they should consider what progress we made on the National Action Plan, which was put together with the support of all the parties, including the PML-N and PTI. Let us just track the story from the signing of NAP to talks with the TTP before anyone gets stars in their eyes.

The writer is a journalist.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2022