A game of chicken that could be disastrousThe confrontation between the government and the opposition is ratcheting up by the day both inside and outside Parliament. In the National Assembly the opposition once again called on the Speaker to issue production orders of the detained opposition MNAs. The opposition has announced its plans for public protests on July 25 when the last elections, considered manipulated by the opposition, were held last year. Those in power can help reduce the political tensions by accepting some of the genuine demands of the opposition like the production of arrested lawmakers in the National Assembly, making the accountability process even-handed and putting an end to what are perceived as vengeful actions against the opposition. Instead of acting in a way that can only promote social strife, the government should hold talks with the opposition and accommodate its legitimate complaints.

Source: Pakistan Today July 17, 2019 17:00 UTC