Salahuddin Haider
WHILE time seems ripe to analyze the ticklish and complex issue of senate elections, it would also be interesting to lay bare cards the combined opposition has been holding closer to its chest, and whether their to it chests and whether the forceful media campaign against the current government has really failed the nation? Branding it as selected and incapable is almost a fashion now but no one provides any comparison of conditions and how previous governments have failed our economy and our country.
A neutral and dispassionate analysis thus becomes unavoidable. While the Q league Chaudhris from Gujrat, take an arrogant but legitimate pride in comprehensive and largely satisfied solution for the senate seats in the Punjab, all three major parties—PP, PML (N), and PTI continue to be entangled and still seems unsure about their chances in the remaining three provinces of Sindh, Balochistan, and KPK.
Polls for the upper house on March 3, remains a brain test in all the above-mentioned territories, contest for the Islamabad seat appears most prestigious for all three. Pundits remain divided and unsure about its result.
Whether former prime minister Yusuf Reza Gilani or finance minister Hafeez Sheikh will emerge successful has become a subject for household discussion.
There seems some logic in views expressed in TV programmes that PPP leader Asif Zardari has pulled a fast one on PML(N) by securing the nomination for its candidate.
What will PML(N) get if Yusuf Reza Gilani wins is the question generally been asked now. The argument gains strength from the disinterest shown by Maryam Nawaz in the unopposed filling of 11 senate seats in the Punjab.
When asked specifically for comments, she tried to evade it, and reportedly complained to her father Nawaz Sharif also as to why such a settlement was allowed in the country’s main province? Peoples Party, although sure of its victory in Southern Sindh, it nevertheless is trying hard to bargain with staunch opponent MQM-Pakistan, promising them later two sure senate seats in Sindh, if the latter voted for Gilani at the federal capital.
That has forced opinion makers to believe that perhaps remains unsure about its candidate for Islamabad seat, and views are generally tilted in favour of Hafeez Sheikh.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-i-Insaaf, pundits normally agree, is in problem in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Dissent in Sindh within PTI ranks is as much evident as it is in northern and south-western geographical boundaries.
Former Sinch chief minister Liaquat Jatoi’s sudden decision to agitate over sanctioning of ticket to outsider Allah Bux Soomro, coupled with the charge that the PTI leadership has been bribed to the tune of RS 350 million, is a sad commentary.
Jatoi not only claims he has evident to defend himself against show cause notice issued to him by the disciplinary committee of PTI, but his cohorts have now started demanding resignation of Governor Imran Ismail.
Whether such a charge should be heeded or ignored, is a pretty difficult question to answer. Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal has ignored PTI’s decision to withdraw ticket to Sadiq, another outsider, and has, instead owned it Awami Party nominee.
Jamiate Ulema-i-Islam and Balochistan National party of AKhtar Mengal too are serious contenders in the south-western territory. A contest there, therefore, will be interesting.
Experts agree that although there is no immediate threat to Imran or his government, contest for the Senate seats in KP, will demand considerable brain-storming from him.
Their argument gets support from divided opinion within the 11-party alliance of Pakistan Democratic Movement which is not only a divided house, but seems surprised by Maryam Nawaz’s latest statement that perhaps the long march would no more be needed.
These elections will be preceded by Supreme Court verdict on Presidential reference as to whether senate elections should be by open or secret ballot. The judgment is due Monday morning, which should clear the smog generating the hot debate over the issue for almost two months.
The war of words, or the heated debate over the performance of the present government is not IK;s incapability, it is basically an inertia of our systems and what we dug ourselves into during the past 73 years in general and the recent 30 years in particular. A debate on the subject can take place at a later stage.
