Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has called for what amounts to a conspiracy of silence on loadshedding by all political parties, while promising that elections would be free, fair and on time. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of two tunnel boring machines following their successful installation at one of the sites of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the government was striving hard to end the energy crisis, and that instead of playing politics on the issue, all should join hands to find a solution, Later the same day, at an iftar-dinner at the PM’s House in honour of the media, he said the solution to all problems lay in holding free and fair elections. It is heartening to hear repeated intentions of holding free and fair elections and would be a major contribution of this government, especially as the elections are due this winter. Though Raja Pervaiz will not conduct the election, his task would be to ensure a smooth transition to the caretaker government, that will. However, his desire to take off the table perhaps the single most burning issue that faces the people, is not likely to be given a hearing by opposition parties, which see this as their main vote-getting plank in the coming election.

Already, Mian Nawaz Sharif has announced energy as one of the three planks on which his PML-N will contest the election, and made certain lofty commitments to boot. The electorate will seek the opportunity to judge between parties on this issue, particularly as the ruling PPP has a less-than-glorious record on it, even though it is very much a governance issue, one on which an election is rightfully contested. This is an attempt to extend the idea of a foreign policy consensus, which does not apply in Pakistan, because the foreign policy issue, of doing whatever the USA says, does not meet the aspirations of the Pakistani people. It is thus natural for the Prime Minister to want there to be no debate on the issue of loadshedding. His desire for silence on this issue is probably increased by his stint as Water and Power Minister, during which he won notoriety because of his introduction of Rental Power Plants, which did not solve the problem, but proved a fecund source of corruption. However, Raja Pervaiz must concentrate on the holding of fresh elections, and leave parties and voters to discuss what failings of the government they wish.