Why demand a national government at this critical juncture while the general election are little more than two weeks away from now? Is not this a rather belated move on the part of some opposition leaders?
These are the pertinent questions which have arisen in the minds after PML (N) leader, twice former Prime Minister and the industrialist turned politician from the provincial metropolis Mian Nawaz Sharif more than once pretty loudly called for setting up of the national government.
Despite Mian Nawaz Sharif's repeated demand, there has been virtually no response either from the opposition camp or from the rulers as such. President Pervez Musharraf has outrightly rejected the demand for setting up of a national government prior to the holding of the general election which are going to be held in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful and orderly manner on February 18.
The President has, however, hinted at the possibility of a national government after the polls if there is a hung parliament and no single party is in a position to form new government at the federal level.
As a matter of fact, the National and Provincial Assemblies coming into existence as a result of October 2002 were dissolved one after the other in November last year on completion of their constitutional tenure of five years in each case.
In accordance with the constitutional provisions, the caretaker set up was inducted at the national and provincial levels accordingly for holding of the general election. The caretakers are doing their assigned job well, providing all cooperation and coordination to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The demand for setting up of a national government from a couple of opposition leaders would have carried some weight in case the polls were postponed for months together in an indefinite manner and not for 40 days only as was announced by the Chief Election Commissioner.
It would be advisable for Mian Nawaz Sharif and others to concentrate on their election campaigns, telling the electorate what they plan to do for their welfare if elected to the power for the next five years and refrain from lashing out at each other, thus indulging in some negative politicking and electioneering.