There are lots of speculations running rife in the federal capital that some forces outside the parliament want an in-house change by moving a no-confidence motion particularly through a key coalition partner against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for his failure to deliver good governance.
These speculations were further fuelled by PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif's press conference in Lahore where he stated that unless the government improves governance PML (N) would favour an in-house change within the parameters of the constitution. However, this was denied by top three major political parties: the PPP (125 seats in the National Assembly), PML (N) with 91 seats, and PML (Q) with 52 seats.
These three parties have a total of 268 seats in a 340-seat house. The MQM with 25 seats has been particularly vocal against ongoing corruption, inclusive of charges of breaking dykes to divert water away from estates of powerful politicians. Reliable sources in the political circles told Business Recorder that these forces have activated some of the like-minded lawmakers to work on certain options like a no-confidence move or mid-term elections to change the present government.
In addition to a "disgruntled" coalition component, the PML-Q Like-minded would be the major players in making this change a reality, sources maintained. Sources in the PPP told this correspondent that a change in government would enable the PPP to consolidate its grass-root support, put its house in order and lay the blame for poor macroeconomic performance on the devastating floods.
Political pundits in PML-N said that their party would not support any extra constitutional means to unseat the government as that may lead to a large sympathy vote in favour of the PPP in the next elections. When asked if the party would extend support to the PPP in the event that a no-confidence motion was tabled, PML (N) party stalwarts stated that this was a hypothetical situation and the party would come up with a firm response if such a motion is actually tabled.
PML-N spokesman Ahsan Iqbal told Business Recorder that talks about no-confidence motions are mere speculations and his party has not taken these seriously so far, but he insisted that PML (N) would not lend support to any interference from any force outside parliament.
Faisal Saleh Hayat, when contacted, stated that the PML (Q) would decide if and when to table a no-confidence motion based on which party proposes or initiates such a move. At present, he maintained, there is no such thinking in the party. Commenting on the situation, PPP Senator Safdar Abbasi said that MQM is a "difficult customer" in the coalition government and PPP made a serious mistake by depending on its loyalties.
He was of the view that the initial coalition government with PML-N as partner was ideal and it could have successfully completed the tenure and handled any situation, had the PPP fulfilled the commitments made with its earlier coalition partners including restoration of the judiciary. Safdar said that if MQM withdraws its support there would be a minority government, which would always be at the mercy of the opposition.
The PPP leader said that the party is still not working to save the system from a possible collapse. He said that the rumours about change of the government are afloat as the present governance system has failed to meet the voters' expectations. Abbasi said the decision-making process has completely failed due to vacuum at the top level. He cited the examples of withdrawing a bulk of notifications issued by the government succumbing to the pressure.
When contacted, PPP Secretary Information Fouzia Wahab said that rumours about change in the government are mere speculations. "Change in the government could be the dream of some media persons and politicians. Every one is spreading rumours in this country," she added. She was confident that the coalition is very much intact and PPP is in constant contact with its coalition partners.
The government is engaged in flood affected areas as water is yet to recede and it is no appropriate time to call meeting of coalition, she commented. Fouzia also ruled out any possibility of in-house change or tabling of any no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister in near future, saying that such misguiding statements by some anti-government elements are rule of the day.