People from different walks of life have welcomed the restoration of PML-N government in Punjab in pursuance of stay order granted by the Supreme Court on an earlier decision of the apex court. Traders and small shopkeepers in Lahore have expressed jubilation over the decision of apex court and expressed the hope that it would help put an end to political uncertainty prevailing in the countrys biggest province.
On the other hand, divergent views of politicians over the decision have been observed. President of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that real objective behind the much-talked politics of reconciliation was to get more power.
Commenting on the restoration of Shahbaz Sharif as Punjab Chief Minister, Shujaat said it was a "fixed fight" between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N).
Moreover, he asked the members of PML-Qs forward bloc to return to their party, as they were no more required by the PML-N. Leader, Pakistan People Party (PPP), Nabeel Gabool in his reaction said that restoration of Shahbaz Sharif as Chief Minister has ended the prevailing political crisis in the province.
Welcoming the apex courts decision, he said, "PPP respects the courts decision." He added that partys co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had already declared that the PPP would extend unconditional support to the PML-N.
When asked about joining the Punjab Cabinet meeting by PPP ministers, he said as per decision of the apex court, position of February 24 has been restored in Punjab, since whole Punjab cabinet stands restored, and all the PPP ministers have also been restored, therefore, they would participate in the Cabinet meeting. However, he said the PPP would decide future strategy vis-à-vis continuation of the PPP-PML-N coalition in the Punjab politics.
A trader of the Mall Javed Khan told this scribe that the business was badly disturbed due to protests and strikes. He hoped that there would be an end of political uncertainty and business activities would get boom with improvement in law and order situation. Another trader Ghulam Mustafa in his reaction expressed the hope that the PML-N leadership would come up to expectations of people of the country and there would be a just society.