Symbol, strategy or apathy?

Ishaq Dar is back making headlines – and once again the reasons are fraught with contention and criticism. On Sunday came the bizarre news that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as the deputy prime minister. First came confusion – not many remembered that such a post had existed before too in our history. Then came anger – why Mr Dar and what does this mean? And then came indignation – does the PML-N really not read room (and countless opeds and editorials) at all when making decisions? Some clarity came shortly after: Ishaq Dar will continue as the foreign minister of Pakistan and the post of deputy PM is a ceremonial figure in the government as there is no such provision in the constitution. The PM, under the Rules of Business of 1973, can however give the additional charge of more responsibilities to Mr Dar. Naturally, there has been a hailstorm of criticism, the PTI leading it. For one, the constitution does not provide the post. For another, the PML-N seems to be taking ‘keeping it in the family’way more seriously than it should.

Why would the PML-N do this then? Among the many offerings of reasons, the one that probably comes across as most plausible is that because this is not a move that is legally barred as such – we have had the 2012 example of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi being made the deputy PM – Mr Dar may have been given this position because of internal tensions and grouping in the PML-N. Whatever compulsions stand behind this move, it seems not just tone deaf but will also be politically damaging for a party that has a tough job on its hands leading a coalition government, an economy in distress, and a populist opposition politician who shows no signs of backing down.

Why then would the PML-N willingly go for a move that opens it to justifiable criticism? And this is not just about the nepotism charge – which also applies since the Sharifs seem to be hell-bent on retaining all posts for themselves, and their families. Whether rightly or wrongly, Mr Dar also wears the taint of the last PDM government’s economic fiascos. While his supporters may be able to come up with a hundred reasons to prove that he should not be saddled with the full responsibility of the PDM government’s economic weaknesses, the fact is that his last stint as finance minister was a major blow to the perception of the PML-N’s ability to deliver economically. It would have been better had Mr Dar instead just focused on the foreign ministry, delivered there and made a brand for himself again – like he did in his 2013-17 stint as the finance minister. This unnecessary step to take another position – ceremonial or not – is bad optics, bad politics, and a terrible PR strategy. Even if the deputy PM post is ‘symbolic’, the PML-N should have avoided this controversy. Whether this was done to appease an individual or to show which Sharif is really in charge, it seems the PML-N is not interested in the feedback of its own voters and supporters. Perhaps a little less symbolism and some pro-people strategy is needed at this moment. Is the country not already burdened by a petulant opposition party for the ruling party to also start playing around with its internal petty politics?