With only a few days left in the presidential election, hectic political activity was witnessed in Lahore to muster support for candidates for presidential post. Those vying for the prestigious slot of the President are PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, a nominee of the PML (N) and the PML (Q) candidate Mushahid Hussein Syed.
The PML (Q) nominee, Mushahid Hussein, has already visited Lahore and held a meeting with his party legislators but Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui had not yet made a visit here. Mushahid's comment here was that Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui had yet to show his 'identity'.
Leaders of the three parties are holding meetings with members of Punjab Assembly to shore up support for their respective nominees. PPP leaders are targeting MPAs of PML (Q) forward block. Apart from making efforts for winning their support for Asif Zardari, they are discussing the post-September 6 scenario. Although, PPP leadership has restrained its leaders from issuing statements against PML (N) leadership, yet they are seen active to press PML (N) leadership to keep coalition intact in Punjab.
PML-N Ahsan Iqbal has already asked the PPP to quit Punjab government. PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooq said relationship between PPP and PML (N) should be maintained in the interest of democracy. PML-N Finance Secretary Pervez Malik said the country was facing many challenges and the need of the hour was to work for the betterment of the country and wellbeing of the people.
He asked PML (Q) leadership to show wisdom and vote for Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui. He claimed that conscientious members of political parties and independent members of parliament would vote for the PML (N) nominee who is a non-partisan and non-political person and the most suitable candidate for the office of President. Pervez said that the PML (N) enjoys over-whelming support of Punjab Assembly legislators and no effort could succeed against the Punjab government.
Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo denied having any task to derail the Punjab government. "Neither I nor my party has any intention to destabilise Shahbaz Sharif's government in Punjab," he said. He said that Asif Zardari is serious in his intention to amend 17th Amendment from the Constitution. The PPP wants to go along with PML-N even after the presidential polls, he added.
PPP's Naveed Chaudhry said that the party was determined to take all political forces along for strengthening of democracy in the country. 'PPP is the symbol of federation in the country as it is enjoying sufficient representation in the four provinces', he added.
Analysts say the PML (N) is closely watching the activities being made at the Governor House and now it seems that the PML (N) is getting far from the PPP. On the other hand, PML (N) is getting closer with PML (Q) due to efforts by common friends in the two parties, they added.
They were of the view that situation was changing fast and possibility of fielding a consensus candidate by the two factions of PML could not be ruled out. If the three candidates remain in the contest, it would definitely provide a clear win to Asif Ali Zardari, who is playing political battle candidly, they viewed.