Firmly scotching rumours of postponement, the government declared on Wednesday that the local bodies elections would be held as planned, and the schedule for elections would be announced soon by the Election Commission. The announcement followed the meeting PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, had with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
They also discussed political situation and party matters, said an official press release. Talking to the PML leaders, the Prime Minister renewed the government's commitment to improve the lot of the common man and to raise their standard of living.
Shaukat said that special emphasis was being laid on provision of basic necessities of life like electricity, gas and clean drinking water along with improving the physical infrastructure and primary health care and education.
The Prime Minister reviewed the pace of progress of the various ongoing development projects in the Punjab and assured that the federal government would continue to work closely with all the provinces with a view to help them in accelerating the efforts aimed at development.
The organisational matters of the PML also came under discussion during the meeting.
MUMTAZ ALVI ADDS: The government is pondering to delay the local bodies' election in the wake of simmering differences within the ruling coalition and unstable political situation.
Pakistan Muslim League sources revealed to Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the intelligence agencies had also advocated a delay in the electoral process.
The sources said that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League was facing internal rift, besides differences with its allies on the local government polls that could ultimately lead to their postponement.
PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who is running from pillar to post to 'silence' a federal minister from Lahore, has so far not succeeded in doing so. He is expected to apprise President Pervez Musharraf of the situation anytime.
"Shujaat may seek President Musharraf's intervention on the party matters and contend that the election in the given situation may not augur well for the party," the sources said.
Though he did not name Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar, but a few days back he said that he was looking for a federal minister who is violating the party discipline and this could result in cancellation of his party membership.
The tug of war between Shujaat and Humayun is a matter still unresolved and apparently neither President General Pervez Musharraf nor Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has shown interest in its settlement, the PML sources said.
The party infighting took a new turn when Humayun Akhtar, son of late general and chief of Inter-Services Intelligence Akhtar Abdul Rehman, met 'estranged' PML president and former Punjab governor Mian Azhar to discuss co-operation.
In addition, the ministers and MNAs from southern Punjab are also exerting pressure on the powers-that-be that they should not be overlooked and given their due share in the local bodies' polls, insiders told Business Recorder.
Law and order situation with high incidence of mysterious killings in Karachi is another headache for the Centre as well as the Sindh government. "There is confusion on how to control the situation and bring about a cease-fire between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamaat-i-Islami in Karachi."
And last but not the least factor that could see the postponement of local bodies' polls is the increasing 'rift' between the government and the opposition. "Political polarisation may impede smooth electoral process," a key PML leader on the condition of anonymity said.
The two major opposition alliances are again seriously thinking of joining hands, particularly after the suspension of 10 lawmakers of the Punjab Assembly. A strong opposition can also signal disaster for the ruling coalition in the upcoming polls.
Keeping these factors in mind, the top leadership is seriously considering delaying the elections for a few months. Though till now, no signal of the delay has been given to the Election Commission or the federating units, but the next week or so is crucial in this connection, the sources said. As per the earlier decision, the electoral process will start next month and would be completed by August. The Election Commission will announce the schedule on Thursday.
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