Pakistan, March 1 -- Political forces appear to be heading towards the end of an exceptionally long election season, after all. While there's no telling if and when the sea of controversies would subside, newly-elected members of the lower house managed to be sworn in on Thursday against deafening ruckus, intense sloganeering, weary delays and bizarre displays of loyalty.

The optics of PTI leaders walking down the steps under the umbrella of SIC and donning masks designed after their party founder carry the earmarks of an unprecedented resistance movement. However, as the other parties show signs of trudging towards the actual task of governance, they are yet to learn how to snap out of the campaigning mode.

It goes without saying that ...