The PMLN buoyed by Republican poll proffers PPPP a deadline
NEW YORK | RUPEE NEWS | July 22nd, 2008 | Pakistan-Patriot: Are new elections in the air, or is this deadline simply a popularity stunt to put the PPPP on notice. While Aitizaz Ahsan struts and frets his wares, and protests the policies of the government, the PMLN stays at home and does not discuss any of the major issues in the parliament. Duh! I didn’t know–tubelight hasn’t come on yet!
The PMLN buoyed by the recent Republican poll which showed Mr. Nawaz Sharif with an astronomical popularity rating of above 80% has now finally decided to rise the crest of Anti-Americanism by jilting the complaint Pakistan Peoples Party. The PMLN is a one trick pony party and has ignored the needs of the people. Will the people vote for the party that stood up to President Clinton and went ahead with the tit-for-tat nuclear tests, or will the electorate vote for the prime Minister that went and surrendered Kargil in Washington and shopped for a $25,000 TaG Heur watch while Pakistanis died on the mountains?
Will the Pakistanis vote for Nawaz Shairf that supported the Martial Law of Zia ul Haq by serving as Chief Minister of the Punjab?
Will the Pakistani people vote for the Prime Minister that ran to Saudi Arabia and colluded with Mr. 10% or will they support the PMLN which is now playing the ethnic card and trying to build support in the Punjab?
The PPPP has a few options. It could build a coalition with the PMLQ and stay in power, or the PPPP could call snap elections. Mr. Zardari’s has used up his best card–the sympathy vote. His party garnered almost the same number of seats in parliament as in the last elections. The party today is splintered among Makhdoom Amin Fahim supporters and Fatima Bhutto admirers. Judging by the climate in the country, the PPPP is in the doldrums and it is slated not to do as well as in the elections last year.
PML-N gives PPP Aug 15 deadline to save coalition Tuesday, July 22, 2008, By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) has conveyed to the Zardari House that it would stay in the coalition only if concrete steps are taken by August 15 on four critical issues, including restoration of the deposed judges and impeachment of Musharraf, a close aide of Mian Nawaz Sharif has claimed.
The other two issues are: implementation of the Charter of Democracy and review of the policy on the war against terrorism.
“We are extremely disappointed with the performance of the coalition so far,” the source said, adding Nawaz Sharif has already consulted his key leaders and friends and has made up his mind that he would leave the coalition if the present situation persists.
“This is ‘enough is enough-like’ situation for the PML-N,” the source said, adding the party has plainly conveyed its intention to PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari through their mutual emissaries.
Besides, the level of trust between the two parties has also been disturbed badly following some controversial appointments made in Punjab.
Like other coalition partners, the PML-N also resents that all key appointments and policy decisions were being taken by the Gilani government unilaterally.
The Zardari House has been conveyed that the restoration of the deposed judges is on top of the PML-N priority list. The PPP has been told that the impeachment of the president could not be delayed anymore whereas parliament should also be moved to implement the Charter of Democracy and restore the 1973 Constitution to the pre-Oct 12, 1999 position.
The PML-N has also conveyed to the Zardari House its dismay over the launching of military operation against so-called extremists in different parts of NWFP and Fata. The PML-N wants the government to address issues of militancy through dialogue, besides bringing in the present policy of war on terror before parliament for discussion.
Perhaps well aware of the fact that Nawaz Sharif’s growing popularity is because of his clear stance on issues like the judges’ restoration, Musharraf’s impeachment and the war on terror, the PML-N is not prepared to continue with the indecisiveness that has so far been the hallmark of the present coalition.
“Now we can’t afford to continue with the status quo,” a PML-N leader said, complaining that the PPP has taken some extremely controversial administrative decisions but the party seeks the resolution of the major problems.
The appointment of Salmaan Taseer as Punjab Governor without consulting the PML-N was a major cause of mistrust between the two parties. Now the governor has appointed his media adviser the same person who was recently removed by the Punjab government from the public relations department for being pro-PML-Q.
Though the government has convened a meeting of the coalition partners this week, the PML-N is not pinning much hope on it.
Nawaz Sharif is not attending the meeting of the coalition partners and instead Shahbaz Sharif would represent him.
“To be frank there is no need for such a meeting as the issues are clear and so are the problems,” a source said, adding the coalition could only be saved by timely decision of Asif Ali Zardari.
While the PML-N is getting aggressive, the PPP co-chairman is facing too many challenges. Besides serious threats to his coalition, the PPP is also facing a clear split between the Zardari group and the Fahim-led selected old guards of the party. There are also unconfirmed reports of some problems related to Zardari’s close family members.
