Why is PML-N geared up to push for snap polls? – by Irfan Shigri
According to a recent report, PML-N has decided to initiate a push for dislodging the PPP government and to seek fresh parliamentary elections ahead of the Senate polls in March 2012. (It may be noted that this date coincides with Najam Sethi’s forecast. In a recent TV talk-show, Sethi, known for his contacts with key stakeholders, “predicted” that the PPP government will not last beyond March 2012.)
That the PML-N wants to disturb the apple-cart before the next Senate elections is very plausible.
If status quo remains, PPP will have roughly 44 senators till 2015. This will mean even if PML-N forms the government in 2013, it will not have its way on legislation without the support of the PPP (with perhaps ANP) coalition.
This is indeed a major challenge for someone notorious for accumulating all powers (legislative, judiciary and sharia) in his own person.
It seems that the PML-N has no time for reconciliation politics and has not come to terms with the trend of coalitiion politics which is set to dominate electoral outcomes in the foreseeable future. Their democratic credentials are suspect, and now it seems that (GHQ-induced?) political expediency might engulf them.
Here is the news report from Express Tribune:
PML-N gears up to push for snap polls
Attempts at assuaging the main opposition seem to have failed as the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to initiate a push for dislodging the government and to seek fresh parliamentary elections ahead of the Senate polls in March next year.
During a meeting with party members at the Punjab House on Tuesday, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said that he would use the administration’s failure to improve the ailing economy and to control “spiralling” corruption as a pretext for a campaign for holding snap elections. At least two key party officials confirmed to The Express Tribune that the group would set in motion a process to lead the country towards elections from July this year, immediately after the National Assembly passes the budget.
The party has also finalised the plan to expel members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from the Punjab cabinet.
If elections for the Senate are held under the current arrangement, the PPP would emerge with a majority in the upper house – meaning that the next administration would be under pressure in terms of legislation.
The PML-N believes it can win the next elections and form the government. “That’s why we want fresh parliamentary polls ahead of the Senate elections,” an explained an official.
“We are not in a hurry, but will definitely give a call for dislodging the inefficient government,” said an official who attended the meeting.
Last month, the PML-N set a 45-day deadline for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led federal government to implement a 10-point agenda it proposed for steering the country’s economy out of a deepening economic crisis.
The deadline is set to end on February 23.
The PML-N’s demands include cutting down on non-development expenditures, reducing the size of the cabinet and eradicating corruption from government departments.
There has been some development on the implementation, but the PML-N said it was too little too late.
“The pace and the swiftness we wanted the government to act with, is missing. That is what’s bothering us the most and there is hardly any hope for any breakthrough,” the PML-N member said, declining to be named.
According to the plan envisaged during the meeting, the party official added, the PML-N would wait till the deadline expires before kicking the PPP members out of the Punjab cabinet.
“That will be the first step. Tougher things will follow,” he explained. “We will seek fresh elections this year.”
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the party media office quoted Sharif as expressing disappointment in the progress of the talks with the government for implementing the reform agenda. “There is no ray of hope,” Sharif told his party stalwarts.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is running out of patience vis-à-vis its quest for saving the existing democratic system but is not short of options in case it has to say good-bye to the Pakistan People’s Party government in the next 15 days at the end of a 45 day deadline it had set for the implementation of a 10-point agenda, a PML-N leader confided to Daily Times on Monday.
Sources said the PML-N has set up a committee comprising senior party leaders to work on a strategy to pull the PPP government down through constitutional means and discuss the prospects of the party in the resultant mid-term elections. The source said a consultation meeting of the PML-N had been summoned in Islamabad on Tuesday (today) to review the progress so far made on the 10-point agenda that the party had set for the PPP-led coalition government to allow it to function for the remaining two years of its five years term.
The source said senator Ishaq Dar, Mehtab Abbasi and senator Pervaiz Rashid would brief the top party leadership on the progress the PPP government had made in consultation with the PML-N committee. The meeting will evaluate the progress and will decide whether to continue to exercise restrain for the remaining 15 days left in the completion of the deadline or decide otherwise since the party has already made up its mind to get rid of the PPP ministers of the Punjab government who have planned to stage a sit in to press the provincial government to acknowledge their 19-point agenda they have set for Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=201128\story_8-2-2011_pg7_9
Excellent Article Giye Bhutto.
this too shall pass.
“Sethi, known for his contacts with key stakeholders, “predicted” that the PPP government will not last beyond March 2012.”
I just loved this statement. Thank you for being so candid.
This is so strange the many in the media who claim to be liberal, shill for the establishment so relentlessly. Sethi has been busy at it from the 80s and Nawaz Sharif had him arrested for some reason.
He has now found refuge in the Jang group and would be free to continue his disinformation campaign that many in other media outlets were not able to handle due to their lack of Jang type deep pockets.
In democracy, and I hope that is our goal in the country, the political parties are free to use whatever means to oppose the incumbent. The caveat being that they should remain within the legal and democratic norms. So if the PMLn is gearing to force an early elections and it stays within the political norms, there is no harm in it.
I would prefer PMLn attempt to force elections thru normal channels over the Mullah brigade or the MQM types forcing the issue via terrorism or by any other violent means.
The PPP will not be in power forever, but as long as it works with the parties that have a stake in civilian rule in Pakistan, it is contributing to Pakistan progress towards democracy.
The PPP and the PMLn would continue to have political differences but they should continue to work together to maintain the civilian rule in the country. That will be a huge service to Pakistan.
Lastly, here is my prediction: The PPP will complete five years and PMLn would not be involved in bringing the PPP government down before five years are up.
Let us see who is better at predicting Sethi or me 🙂
I think PMLn took on the MQM –when it deserted the government– in a commendable way, forcing the MQM back into government thusly.
Najam Sethi is these days saying on his program Aapas Kee Baat that 2011 is the year of elections and that is why all this is happening. Another reason he has cited is that in Feb 2012 would be the Senate elections and no one can dare to have a situation where PPP gets 40% or more representation in the Senate.
Now can someone ask Mr. Sethi that he is predicting that elections will happen and the PPP will be out of power, what is the likelihood that it completes its tenure? if it does what is the scenario? Off course, they will never discuss that as it would mean the end of clout of jang group and against its policy.
PML-N is making efforts on two thronged strategy. On the question of Raymond Davis, she thinks she has cornered PPP and soon dollar flow from West would minimize or stop outright. But, this is not all said and done. PML-N can not grab the center in the next election (whenever it takes place) simply because in reality this party is only confined to North Punjab. Like good olden and golden days, she wants a romantic relations with establishment to manipulate the next election one more time. If armed forces lose the helpline of USA, a natural reaction for them would be to have a tilt to PML-N which is missing at this point in time.
Someone should ask nawa zia to read behind the truck.
‘hasad na kar mehnat kar’
I dont think so that’s plausible.. senate elections are conducted through provincial assemblies and pmln has zero power to dislodge three of the provincial assemblies.. no matter how much theyd like to do it.. and I’m not sure the PM has the power any longer to dislodge a provincial assembly.. so the idea kind of seems far fetched..