If confirmation was needed that (Pakistan) prime minister Imran Khan’s preferred way of governing is by unilateral actions, it came in his government’s recent handling of a slew of issues. Not only has this done little to inspire public confidence in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's government, it has also divided opinion in the country and raised afresh questions about the direction it is taking. This also means that while the government rules it does not govern. It wields power but that doesn’t translate into showing the leadership needed to effectively meet the country’s challenges.
The most spectacular example of the government’s flawed response to a challenge is provided by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan's affair. Its approach was mired in confusion from the start as supporters of the banned group locked down Grand Trunk Road and threatened to march on Islamabad. Characteristically, cabinet ministers gave contradictory statements. The interior minister surpassed his own record of bluster. The government lurched between appeasement and declarations of firmness about upholding the writ of the state. But tough rhetoric by government leaders bore little relation to reality. In the end the state’s writ lay in shambles by the agreement forged with the proscribed group.