Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) circles are cutting a sorry figure over the fate of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) amid disgraceful retreat of the party leadership on the issue. The PPP circles are totally mum over the situation and they are avoiding commenting on the reasons behind the retreat of the party top leadership recently.
It may be noted that the PPP circles were quite optimistic about the NRO's turning into a law before it was tabled to the National Assembly. They were of the view that the PPP could easily get through the process, as the opposition was not enjoying required majority to null and void the NRO in the assembly.
The only apprehension on their part was the opening up of a Pandora's Box, inviting more criticism for the party leadership. The PPP circles were arguing that the Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) would vote for the PPP on the NRO en bloc, defeating the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) move of creating hurdle in the passage of the NRO.
However, the PPP's hope proved a house of cards in front of the clear cut stance adopted by the MQM over the NRO. Also, the PML-N played its cards tactfully against other political parties supporting the PPP on the NRO. Especially, the statement of Chaudhry Nisar about Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman further exposed the opportunistic attitude of the government allies.
The PPP circles believe that the party leadership had failed to do necessary home work on the issue before tabling the NRO in the National Assembly. It may be noted that a good number of party workers were instructed to reach to Islamabad where they were assigned the task of raising slogans in favour the NRO during the Assembly session.
These workers, including some female party members, were returned to city with soaring throats. However, a shameful retreat of the party leadership on the NRO has added salt to their injuries, as they are deploring over the state of affairs and terming their shouting in favour the NRO as useless.
The PPP circles are highly demoralised over the outcome of the NRO fiasco and they are looking further depressed regarding the performance of the party leadership on upcoming fiasco over 17th amendment. According to these circles, the party has yet to brush the insult over NRO under the carpet while preparing itself for another political duo with the PML-N over the 17th amendment.