Imran needs to tackle political challenges better.

When a Pakistani Cabinet minister banged an army boot on the table during a live TV show in the past week, the country's rulers and their disconnect with the ongoing political slide became obvious once again. Minister Faisal Vawda with a history of clumsy theatrics used the occasion to condemn the country's opposition politicians as no more than 'boot lickers'. Yet, not only did his own already tarnished credentials come apart once again, the sorry event also highlighted Prime Minister Imran Khan's increasing failure to take charge of what seems like a rudderless government, notwithstanding official claims to the contrary. Many Pakistanis still recall another sorry episode from 2018 when Vawda turned up in the midst of a police versus terrorists stand-off at the Chinese consulate in Karachi. Armed and wearing a flak jacket, Vawda went on public TV in the midst of that dangerous saga, promising to join the fight as an act of patriotism.

That he became more of a hindrance in that episode rather than a supporting mechanism appeared to make little difference to the country's top leadership right up to Imran. Imran will have to revamp his team and replace novices who are more a liability for his government. For the moment, Vawda has apparently been ordered by Imran to stay away from appearances on TV channels, according to the latest press reports. But the prime minister's failure to dismiss ministers like Vawda, who has clearly been out of line for more than just a while, says much about his failure to be decisive. Last week's episode has coincided with signs, albeit early ones, of political allies of Imran's ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) being disgruntled with the direction of the government. Consequently, it's hardly surprising that leaders of smaller political parties in the southwestern Balochistan province, the southern Sindh province and the central Punjab province, have recently come out publicly to share their anxieties with the direction of the PTI-led government.

It's much too early to foretell the final outcome of such events. But it would be equally unwise to shove them under the carpet as no more than another proverbial storm in a teacup. Clearly, the all too powerful reality of Pakistan's very obvious present-day trends ought to say far more about where the country is heading. Economic malaise It's abundantly clear that Imran's ability to take charge of Pakistan is in doubt. But is he able to fathom the reality of the...