POLITICAL developments have started taking dangerous turns after submission of a requisition by the opposition parties for convening of the session of the National Assembly and submission of a resolution for no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
A flurry of meetings is going on and almost all parties are not fully showing their cards making the situation treacherous both for the government and the opposition as no one knows for sure in which direction the things would ultimately go.
While meetings and claims and counter claims about the numbers’ game are understandable, it is alarming that the political temperature is increasing at a great speed with neutral observers fearing open confrontation between the two sides if conscientious efforts were not made at fire-fighting.
The ruling party was definitely hurt over reports of purchase of loyalties of PTI members by the opposition and a visible example was open violation of party’s decision to boycott election of the Senate seat from Sindh but its four members cast their votes.
In this backdrop, the fiery speeches being made by the Prime Minister are also understandable as he is, apparently, trying to keep the sagging morale of his party members and workers up.
He is conveying an impression that his government was firmly in control and determined to thwart the plan of the opposition.
However, the language being used by him against the top leadership of the opposition parties is making things murkier as there was sharp reaction from workers, supporters and leaders of these parties.
As per claims of Babar Awan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs, the government has also firmed up a strategy to keep its members and those of the allies away from the venue of the forthcoming session of the National Assembly on the day of voting on the no-confidence motion.
In the first place, the decision is an indirect acknowledgement on the part of the government that it has no trust on its members and its numbers are not intact.
Secondly, how can the Speaker assume in advance that a member would defect and deny him access to a session of the house?
What if the opposition decides to go ahead with its plans to organize a long march on March 23 and the participants keep sitting there till disposal of the motion for no-confidence?
PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman has already retorted that they too have baton-wielding force if the government resorts to any foul play.
Under these circumstances, there could be a showdown, which might or might not be in the interest of the parties concerned but it would definitely not be in the interest of the country.
