News Analysis | Delay In Cabinet Formation Bodes Ill For Parliamentary Democracy

The prime minister, also known as ‘speedy Shehbaz’, should demonstrate his ‘speed’ by announcing the cabinet without any delay and involve the parliament in his decision-making processes.

The intriguing delay in formation of the federal cabinet has been widely criticised in the country and is being seen as a sign of internal differences within the ruling coalition. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took oath on April 11 and it was expected that the cabinet would be announced within a day or two. However, despite the passage of a week, the country remains without a functional government. In fact, political bickering and the earlier constitutional crisis spurred by former PM Imran Khan’s machinations have resulted in a governance vacuum since the beginning of this month.

In a parliamentary democracy, the office of prime minister represents the collective responsibility of the cabinet and therefore this delay is most worrying for the future of politics. PM Shehbaz Sharif has a reputation of competence; however his style of governance from his Punjab days has been that of a one-man show. Islamabad however is an entirely different ballgame, especially when the prime minister has been elected by a coalition of five parties, some of which had been part of the previous government. Therefore, PM Sharif cannot be the sole administrator nor can he be a PM representing his party alone.

Given the complex nature of the Pakistani federation, his governance style must adapt to the imperatives of a multiethnic polity that should instil confidence in smaller provinces and take effective decisions on issues that the previous government could not handle effectively.

Furthermore, the new government faces a variety of challenges some of which seem intractable at the moment. First, the economic crisis, that could quickly turn into a serious meltdown. Second is the relentless propaganda by the erstwhile PM and his cronies that the new government is an ‘imported’ one — which has come about through a US-led conspiracy.

Lastly, the middle classes and the poor hit by inflation are looking for immediate relief. All of these challenges require a multiparty consensus on tough decisions and quick reforms that can only be handled if there is a competent cabinet, effective parliamentary committees and frequent recourse to the parliament on issues of public importance.

The inauguration of a much-delayed metro bus in Islamabad, while laudable, is by no means a substitute for restoring parliamentary governance and some sanity into a highly polarised political arena. The prime minister, also known as ‘speedy Shehbaz’, should demonstrate his ‘speed’ by announcing the cabinet without any delay and involve the parliament in his decision-making processes.