Situation on the political chessboard is likely to get a new twist as the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed PML senior vice-president General Majid Malik (Retd) to take part in the third phase of local bodies' elections.
The PML leadership had challenged the legality of the matric certificate of the general, after he insisted on vying for the nazim slot from Chakwal. However, the apex court declared his certificate as genuine and his candidature valid.
If and how the decision will dent the PML, is hard to guess at present. But the results of the October 6 local bodies' last phase will have their impact on the party, struggling to maintain unity in its ranks.
This development will not go well with the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, who had overlooked Malik and nominated Sardar Abbas as a candidate for the nazim slot.
Some analysts see, in the apex court decision, a signal for Chaudhry Shujaat, who in no way wanted Malik to jump into the 'fray'. It is intriguing to know why he overlooked this old politician, who commanded big clout in the district.
Obviously, this mystery will be unravelled in time one day, but Malik may prove another Waterloo for the League leaders. Ostensibly, the issue appears to be small, but it can have a snowball effect. Malik can drum up more support from those who were treated by the PML leadership in like manner, such as Anwar Ali Cheema, Farooq Leghari, Manzoor Wattoo and Hamid Nasir Chattha.
Last week, Malik wrote to key party leaders to take stock of his case and at least throw behind him their moral support. Needless to say, the number of disgruntled elements is soaring. Some of them have already shown their resentment during the recently prorogued National Assembly session and during 'off the record' chats with newsmen at the Parliament cafeteria.
"Such lawmakers will not sit idle after the results are announced. They will be reviewing the whole scenario to ponder over the options they can avail," a senior PML leader, who enjoys reputation of being a neutral, commented.
President Musharraf, the other day, apparently without taking sides, asked the party to maintain unity. He neither supported Shujaat nor Malik. However, analysts believe that Musharraf might have a soft corner for the veteran from Chakwal, for they have a 'career' similarity.
History has the incorrigible habit of repeating itself. Though it may sound too early, but history is likely to repeat itself and many desertions may occur. Such desertions from the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) put the PML in commanding position from the day Zafarullah Khan Jamali was elected the prime minister.
This changing of loyalties continues to add to the PML clout since November 2002. However, the post-local bodies' election scenario may witness a U-turn in such trend. In whatever context, Shujaat said last week that 2006 would be the year for preparations for elections.
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