After emerging as the single largest political party in Upper House of the Parliament with 41 seats, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) will continue to play a crucial role in future legislation even if it does not emerge as the single largest party in the Lower House following the forthcoming general elections.
The Friday's Senate election once again provided significance to PPP with an increase from 27 to 41 in the 104-member Upper House, thereby ensuring its important role in future parliament. Though the party is 12 seats short of the required simple majority of 53 seats. However, some constitutional experts believe that PPP would continue to play a crucial role in future legislation.
There is no doubt that President Zardari, who is also co-chairman of the PPP, has been successful yet again in ensuring his party's predominance in Senate elections. Now the President will turn his full attention to ensuring that the PPP maintains if not enhances its strength in the Lower House.
Contrary to its declining popularity with respect to its failure to provide relief to the masses in general, some political analysts still believe that the PPP may lose seats in cities however it will win rural seats in the general elections where vote continues to be cast on the basis of "baradari system" and not on performance. In major Punjab and Sindh urban areas with exposure to private television channels that are focusing on the government's poor performance the winners would be MQM (in Karachi and Hyderabad), PML (N) and PTI, analysts maintain.
Price hike, loadshedding, gas shortages, bad governance and corruption would, therefore, lead to few votes cast in favour of the ruling PPP. The PPP may enter in an election alliance with the present coalition partners for contesting coming election; however, any decision in this regard would be taken later on after a review of the likely electoral strength of the coalition partners. Analysts argue that given the fact that Imran Khan's Tehrik-i-Insaaf is clearly in the lead in Khyber Pakhtukhwa the President may opt not to form an electoral alliance with the ANP leadership and instead leave the door open for a partnership after the election results.
Subsequent to the eighteenth amendment the Senate is not empowered to block any bill sent up by the Lower House. However, it can delay it through suggesting amendments. However if the National Assembly does not approve those amendments then a joint sitting of parliament would decide the bill's fate. However, whatsoever the outcome of the forthcoming general elections, the PPP with majority in the Senate would be in a strong position and would give a tough time to a government led by any other party.