The Pakistani Spectator

Judges restoration issue  behind us, there aren’t many stumbling blocks left to be swiveled aside to have a broad-based reconciliation efforts by the genuine democratic forces. Being the largest and richest province of Pakistan, Punjab holds the key to the power structure of politics in Punjab. Unstable and uncertain Punjab province casts dark clouds throughout the country. With NWFP and Balochistan already reeling under the terrorism, political contention in Punjab strikes severe blows to the foundations of Pakistan.

It is almost certain that the position of 24th February is going to be restored in the Punjab province with PML(N), PPP in government and Shahbaz Sharif as the chief minister. The governor raj is also going to be lifted very soon through the orders of Supreme Court and Salman Taseer’s days as governor are also numbered and he is likely to be shifted to some lucrative post in Islamabad.

Coalition government in Punjab comprising of PPP and PML(N) is ideal right now as it will ensure that no mud-slinging, horse-trading, palace-shenanigans and dirty politics is played by either side. It would also accrue huge benefits for the people of Punjab specifically and for the people of Pakistan generally.

Another good outcome would be the sidelining of PML(Q) the party which was hatched by dictator Musharraf to get political support. PML(Q) is an orphan which is in the quest of some godfather. They have been turned down by PML(N), and they have been tested by PPP but after finding of no use whatsoever, have been discarded. They cannot sustain in the opposition and as they are left to be sulked in the cold, their disintegration is imminent. PML(Q) doesn’t enjoy any popular support. They cannot mobilize people and they carry loads of burden from the Musharraf era. They simply cannot let it go. Their elected MPAs and MNAs have largely been in the assemblies just because they had their own vote bank based on Biradari System.

Chaudhary Shujaat came up with a clever formula to join the government in Punjab. PML(N) laughed it away, while PPP sensibly ignored it after almost going for it.  For almost nine years or so, Chaudhary brothers  and their cronies in PML(Q) remained cahoots with Musharraf in every sin. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary should also do justice in this regard. PML(Q) is the bad blood in Punjab, which must be drawn out.

PPP and PML(N) right now are the best duo in Punjab. They will not stick together as they are traditional competitors fighting always for the power, but for now they have to join hands and do joint efforts to meet the challenges and to keep the vehicile of democracy on the track.