Pakistan Muslim League (Q) seems to be in panic after the scheduled arrival and unexpected public response to Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party.
Unlike former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto succeeded in materialising her homecoming plan after spending more than eight years in self-exile, despite the hectic efforts by the government to get the return plan postponed. But she did not honour the suggestion of General Pervez Musharraf in delaying her homecoming, which caused a disturbing situation to the ruling League in the corridors of power.
Benazir Bhutto reached Karachi under a deal-cum-understanding with President General Pervez Musharraf after the later cleared her from the corruption cases pending against her in courts by promulgating the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in return of her party's indirect support in the Presidential elections held in the recent past.
PPP chairperson not only succeeded in coming to the country as per schedule, but also mobilised a significant number of masses in Karachi from all over the country giving their chief a heroic reception as it was seen in 1986.
On the other hand, Q-League was formed under the umbrella of army after toppling a democratic government of Nawaz Sharrif in 1999, which considers Pakistan People's Party as its main rival party in the upcoming general elections. Hence, such a political show and masses mobilisation just before the elections seems to be a major jolt to the ruling League in term of its vote bank.
PML(Q) has governed the country for the last five years, is perturbed over the support of Western powers to the PPP mainly by the United States to bring what it considers 'liberal' party to power by sharing power with Musharraf in the new set-up.
Under these circumstances, Musharraf-BB deal was not only opposed by the senior leadership of Q-League but it was openly disowned even by its chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussian and other senior party leaders including Ijazul Haq, former President Farooq Ahemd Khan Laghari and Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi besides Punjab and Sindh chief ministers.
PPP chairperson arrived Pakistan by sidelining the suggestion given by President General Pervez Musharraf and other PML leadership to postpone the plan till the decision of apex court on the Constitutional petitions filed against the candidature of President General Pervez Musharraf for becoming third time President.
Analysts believe that return of the former Prime Minister Benazir would have a great impact on the political scenario as it did in 1986 which subsequently helped her in clean sweeping the general elections of 1988 after the sudden death of the then dictator General Ziaul Haq in a planecrash. They are of the opinion that PPP would give tough time to the PML-Q in the general elections if these were held in the presence of Benazir in the country.
For this purpose, majority of the Leaguers were in favour of also allowing former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return and take part in the general elections in a bid to beat PPP collectively. It is also learnt that PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is reportedly abroad and in contact with Sharif brothers to come up with a new plan of action to face the post-Musharraf's election scenario.
Meanwhile, commenting on the return of Benazir, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed opined that Benazir would have no influence in the upcoming elections as PPP could not gather people as in 1986.
Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said the press conference of former Prime Minister was full of disappointments and there was no new agenda for the people of Pakistan with Benazir Bhutto.
Sindh Chief Minister said that Benazir is coming home with an agenda of West and she has planned to hand over Dr Qadir Khan to the West and would give permission to allied forces to raid the tribal areas. Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that Benazir's return is a risk for the sovereignty of the country and there is no threat politically to any other party.
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