Dangerous delusions.

Byline: Zahid Hussain

SPEAKING at a dinner for coalition lawmakers recently, the prime minister had boasted: 'we are the only choice'. Maybe his words were meant to calm down disgruntled allies and were also a way of letting an increasingly aggressive opposition, baying for his blood, know that he was not going anywhere. But whose 'choice' was he alluding to?

It was not a speech given at the hustings. For some, it amounted to a habitual arrogance and a feeling of illusory superiority. But there was more to the assertion that came in the midst of the widening cracks within a fragile coalition and growing discontent within party ranks.

Some observers took the prime minister's remarks as meant for the security establishment, ie 'we are still your best bet'. It is evident that the establishment's continued support is critical to keeping intact a fractious ruling coalition that has been further shaken by the exit of Akhtar Mengal's BNP-M and the threats of some other parties to abandon ship.

Moreover, the public remarks of cabinet ministers have further added to the government's woes. Surely the passing of the budget has come as a relief for the ruling elite, but the crisis of confidence is far from over. A major challenge for the prime minister is how to save the coalition from falling apart.

The opposition seems to have become more coherent and forceful in challenging the government.

Meanwhile, a seemingly more united opposition has stepped up its attack targeting the prime minister in particular. The government's mishandling of the ongoing pandemic, the worsening economic situation, and the various scandals highlighting the crisis of governance have provided the opposition ammunition with which to target a beleaguered administration.

That has at least forced the prime minister to come down from his pedestal and try and placate disgruntled allies and appease party dissidents. It has certainly not been Imran Khan's approach to get directly involved in such political manoeuvring. The responsibility had earlier been left to Jahangir Tareen and some other party leaders.

The dinner that was followed with a series of meetings with allied party leaders is seen by many as a desperate attempt on Prime Minister Imran Khan's part to salvage the situation. But there are still questions regarding how he can emerge from what can only be described as a subjective reality.

One tangible change in the prime minister, perhaps prompted by internal criticism, is...