Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), the coalition partners of the PPP, have expressed their serious reservations over the imposition Governor's Rule that would become a serious blow to possible reconciliation efforts of the two parties with the PML-N).
Informed sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that the two allies informed the PPP leadership that promulgation of Governor's Rule had actually disputed the Supreme Court verdict disqualifying the two PML-N leaders. The JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman met the president Asif Ali Zardari and the informed him about his party's point of view on the current political situation arising after the apex court's order.
He urged the President to go for reconciliation as political confrontation will harm the democratic set up. The JUI-F chief called Shahbaz Sharif after he met the president. The phone call by Fazal indicates that the president was not rejecting the aspect of reconciliation. But political analysts are of the view it is Nawaz Sharif who holds the key. By holding a public meeting at Sheikhupura, he showed his card.
The ANP also conveyed its version through contacts in the PPP and said that after the promulgation of Governor's Rule, the government itself had violated the Constitution, a senior party leader told this scribe. The central government could do some face-saving by saying that the government had nothing to do with the verdict, but the promulgation of Governor's Rule in Punjab had made the judgement more controversial.
This has made Zardari position more vulnerable. This is the first step of political head of the state against democratic government of Punjab, the ANP leader says. Political analysts are of the view that Zardari has become the real replacement for Musharraf after the controversial SC verdict and promulgation of Governor Rule.
The former president was a military general. His military uniform was an excuse for all his action. Zardari is a civilian president and his acting like a military dictator would invite more public wrath. There is no excuse of the military uniform any more.
The PML (N) guns are now set against Zardari. The other PPP leadership is not coming under fire. Only other person who can somehow equate Zardari in inviting the public anger is the Punjab governor Salman Taseer, according to analysts.
Sources say that if the president goes ahead with his plan of entering into an alliance with the PML-Q, then the PPP and other allied parties would have to be ready for more adjustments. The PML-Q will be highly demanding. Their demands will not be restricted to Punjab only. They will demand their share in Centre.
So far the PML-Q is divided on the formation of the government with the PPP in Punjab. But the opportunists in the party say that PML-Q should become an ally of the PPP by keeping its independent entity intact.
They say that by joining the PML-N the PML-Q will have to almost cease its own existence. But the pro PML-N group in the party are of the view that joining hands with the PPP would be equal to political death of the party. The party will be a marginal political force in the next general elections that mainly belong to the PML-N.