The More You Change.

It was on Oct 21. Two grounds. Two different games. One of them saw South Africa handing England a thumping defeat. The other witnessed the homecoming of a son of the soil after almost four years of self-imposed exile. Surprisingly, the crowd was much bigger in size in the second match even if there was no chance for the opponents to play the second innings. Indeed, it was a one-man show. Both matches were shown on TV screens right from the beginning till the last ball was bowled. One ended with an unexpected result while the other ended as planned. The biggest difference between the two matches? One of them was not fixed...!

As expected, economic recovery remained at the centre of his speech. Nevertheless, this was not an appropriate forum for giving a detailed plan to get Pakistan out of its economic woes. However, his nine-point agenda including some reforms and revolutions shed some light on the plan. The presence of the former Finance Minister next to him and the conspicuous absence of Miftah Ismael from the scene faintly indicated certain familiar contours of the future roadmap and the party's well-known modus operandi. In case, he becomes the PM for the fourth time, the people may get ready to see a tussle between the ongoing plans particularly the launching of the SIFC and a newly introduced Islamic-orientated approach.

Wisely avoiding his earlier reference to the accountability of certain individuals, the PML(N)'s supreme leader emphasised the need to strengthen Pakistan's constitution by creating harmony amongst its institutions. Due to the paucity of time, he could not properly explain how exactly his party would be able to achieve this objective, particularly in view of his own present political disposition. Nor was there any time to state the obvious. In any case, it was a home-coming address and not a closed-door political debate wherein one was free to remind all institutions to remain within the bounds of their respective domains. Looking at the developing pattern, one might not experience the emphatic name-calling with fingers pointed in all directions anymore. However, those who think that the lion has been tamed might be in for a surprise. The lion might start roaring again particularly when the jungle accepts it as the interim king.

The talk of having close and cordial relations with our neighbours might have raised some eyebrows in Islamabad. Pak-India bilateral trajectory, therefore, might remain hostage to the two...