The headline of the top English Daily of Pakistan DAWN today is: “PML –N unwilling to share CPEC control?”
The newspaper has reported that the controversy surrounding Panamagate and the Prime Minister’s extended stay in London following heart surgery has resulted in the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) slowing down to an alarming degree.
The project seems to have become now the key reason of tension between the civilian and military leaderships; and the Chinese are concerned over and unhappy with the overall management of the project, particularly the involvement of various ministers and ministries resulting in unnecessary delays. The Chinese want the Army to have the lead role in the progress of the CPEC.
Quite obviously this situation happens to be in direct contradiction of the vested interests of the PML (N) in the whole project. On the one hand, massive and monumental financial interests have come at stake, and on the other hand if the military takes over the key role in the project, the PMNL (N) leadership will not be able to gain any political mileage in the eyes of the people.
The Army leadership now is under considerable pressure to take proactive decisions that are likely to have great bearing on the future of this country.
Will the Army abandon the country to a Civil leadership that is engulfed in controversy and chaos, as well as alarming lack of responsibility? Or will it come forward to play a decisive role in correcting the disastrous behaviours of our governing leaders?
The Nation is in a state of suspended suspense — waiting for the answers.
