ver since a Supreme Court full bench handed down the verdict in the reserved seats case in favour of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, political tensions have reached new heights across the country already riddled with complex issues – from political chaos to economic woes. It is as if the verdict caught the establishment and the ruling coalition – the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party – by surprise. A crises-ridden country has landed into yet another political quagmire. Panicking, the government has rushed to file a review petition challenging the verdict in pursuit of relief from the Supreme Court. While the PTI has rejoiced the verdict, hoping to reduce support for the government from a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to a tenuous one, the government and its parliamentary allies have alleged that it is “tantamount to rewriting the constitution.” Some of the coalition leaders have hastened to add that it will not cause the government to fall. Some have complained that the Supreme Court went an extra mile to grant relief even the petitioner had not asked for.

The government’s reaction has been severe, to say the least. Its leaders are said to have discussed the option of invoking Article 6 against former president Arif Alvi and former National Assembly’s deputy speaker Qasim Suri. They have also been talking about proclaiming a ban on the PTI and are currently trying to enlist support of allied parties for this purpose. Pakistan Peoples Party, the key ally, has yet to make a decision on extending its support to the PML-N. Many of its leaders have indicated that they do not approve of the idea of banning a mainstream political party and have called it a futile exercise as well as potentially counterproductive.

While the government is trying to bring about political and economic stability to attract foreign investment, the tensions with the PTI and the deteriorating law and order situation in the region along the Western borders are obstructing its efforts. The government has multiple fronts to worry about. Imran Khan and many other political leaders of the PTI are facing legal cases. In an effort to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, the government has resorted to some unpopular decisions. It has introduced heavy taxes and raised electricity and gas tariffs – some say beyond the paying capacity of the consumers. The new taxes imposed by the cash-strapped government have invited public ire.

The apparent confrontation between state institutions has added fuel to the fire. The PML-N government is in dire straits of fear and desperation. Some of its leaders have hinted at the possibility of a major breakdown over the coming months that might result in a collapse of the government. Despite their efforts to keep the establishment on board on every important decision, PML-N leaders are unable to rule out a conspiracy against them.

The popularity of the ruling party has ebbed. Some PML-N leaders have seemingly reached the conclusion that the superior courts are biased against them and determined to facilitate their arch rival Imran Khan. Some of the federal ministers, as well as other leaders, have voiced their frustration following the verdicts in strong language. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and her father, Nawaz Sharif, have raised serious concerns over the recent developments.

The PML-N is faced with unprecedented challenges. It feels constrained to be aligned with the establishment to remain in power at the cost of an irreparable political loss of popular support for years to come. There seems to be no way to avoid the collision course. The country is reeling under massive inflation and miserable economic conditions. The political situation is making things worse for the common man, especially the youth, of whom many have lost all hope of a pleasant change in the near future.

Incarcerated, Imran Khan continues to reject all calls for talks with the ruling parties. He is adamant that he will only negotiate with the “actual powers.” He argues the political parties are powerless and in no position to hold substantive talks. On the one hand, he holds the military leadership responsible for what he and his party are going through. On the other, he wants to hold talks with none else. The recent actions and stated resolve of the establishment indicate that it is not inclined to give him any relief anytime soon.

The writer is a senior broadcast journalist. He has worked with several news channels in Pakistan