Three major political parties are re-shaping their strategies with a view to staying highly relevant to the fast moving political ballgame in the country. According to the well-paced sources in Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Muslim League-Q, meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on January 23 had re-set the political stage in the country.
A mild reception to the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary and a delay in the Supreme Court's decision followed it on Sharifs' disqualification. The sources said the PML-N had not only accommodated the PPP provincial legislators as parliamentary secretaries, but also vowed to include the PPP ministers in the provincial cabinet in second week of the current month. Similarly, the PML-N had also changed its unwavering stance on lawyers' long march on March 9, virtually kneeling down to the PPP moves towards a change in Punjab politics with the help of PML-Q, they said.
It is generally understood among political circles that the PPP is ruling the roost at present, pushing the PML-N on the backfoot, while leaving the PML-Q lying on the ground. According to the sources, important development can take place on Sharif brothers' disqualification case in the Supreme Court that would set the future course of political developments in the country.
Next important milestone could be the March 9 long march of lawyers' community where the PML-N would have to sail in two boats. Eventually, the Senate elections on March 11 would be the defining moment of new course of political developments in the country.
The political circles firmly believe that the PPP has managed both the PML-N and the PML-Q handsomely. The carrot and stick policy of President Asif Ali Zardari has virtually tamed the PML-N, which is losing its options fast with every passing day.
Similarly, he has allured the PML-Q by showing it political lollypop, resulting into failure of veteran Majid Nizami's efforts of Muslim League's re-unification. Sources in the PML-Q confided to Business Recorder that it had made clear to the PPP that if Shahbaz Sharif got a narrow escape from disqualification petition, PML-Q would never be a part of no-confidence movement against the PML-N in Punjab.
Also, the PML-Q has conditioned its coalition with the nomination of Mushahid Hussain Syed as a consensus candidate for the office of Senate Chairman. However, the latest induction of the PPP members in the Punjab government as parliamentary secretaries has weakened the bargaining position of PML-Q for the time being.
Sources in the PML-Q believe that the situation would tilt again in its favour after the Supreme Court's verdict on Sharifs' disqualification case. The PML-N, on the other hand, believes that it has already won the support of 46, out of 83 PML-Q members in the National Assembly and rest of the MNAs would join it soon.
Therefore, it can easily manoeuvre the situation once it is out of disqualification pressure. The political circles believe that uncertainty has become name of the game at present and the stability is losing ground fast in the country. Only the continuity of politics of consensus may avoid turmoil like situation ahead.