Pakistan is passing through another interesting period of its eventful and crisis-ridden history, as a technocrat Prime Minister would form the new government this week.
Shaukat Aziz has already tasted perils of politics in Pakistan when he miraculously survived a suicide attack on his life while campaigning in Attock. Since then, he has not addressed a public meeting.
However, some people and delegations from these constituencies were brought to Islamabad, so that he could speak to them.
After completing constitutional requirements, Shaukat Aziz is expected to take oath as Prime Minister on 22nd or 23rd of this month.
All the important files and summaries that have been pending for a decision for the past 45 days would be put before the new PM and the stalled government machinery would resume functioning.
Political analysts say that several Federal ministers will lose their posts as it is a political necessity for Shaukat Aziz to bring in some new faces to give a semblance of a rejuvenated and competent cabinet which has the ability, commitment and will to solve the ever-growing problems of the country.
The powerful Federal Ministers belonging to newly formed Pakistan Peoples Party are certain to retain their ministries.
Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, Rao Sikander Iqbal, Faisal Saleh Hayat and Nauraiz Shakoor held a separate meeting to take stock of the current political situation. When this scribe asked one of the PPP ministers if they had any conditions to support the new Pakistan Muslim League government, he emphasised that their support would be unconditional.
The Jats and Chaudhries of the Punjab have had the first taste of real power at the Centre and in the Punjab even for a brief period since the days of Ranjeet Singh in early nineteenth century; with powerful bureaucrat Tariq Aziz sitting in the President House as Secretary of the National Security Council.
In the October 2002 elections, the Jats had marginalised the other influential 'Biradaries' living the Punjab like Arains, Kashmiris, Rajputs, Gujjars, Awans and Rajas, and had more seats than any other Biradari with Shujaat Hussain as the President of ruling Muslim League.
The Jats had desired that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain should have continued as the Prime Minister; however Shujaat was quite reluctant to oblige them as he had made a commitment to leave the coveted office as soon as Shaukat Aziz was elected a member of the National Assembly.
The Jats will retain the government of Punjab with Pervaiz Elahi as the Chief Minister, where law and order remains the biggest worry of the people. The situation in the villages and countryside is especially precarious and dangerous.
Unemployment is rampant and the educated youth was not finding many job opportunities for honest-living.
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