View from the Gallery
The lack of quorum in the National Assembly (NA) continues to haunt the ruling party so often these days that it has become a new normal for the back benchers as well as absentee ministers.
Monday was one such day when the ruling party and allies could not get a crucial bill (Commission of Inquiry) pass as they didn’t muster the magic number of 86 members required to maintain quorum. PPP’s Ijaz Jhakrani did all the spade work to achieve this end, as another party member pointed out the quorum.
The PPP benches, perhaps, are preparing in advance for the arrival of their chairman as an elected member at the outset of year 2017. On this day, hectic efforts of ministers went in vain as almost all the opposition legislators stayed away resulting in unceremonious adjournment of the proceedings till Tuesday. PTI, till date, is boycotting parliament’s proceedings and intends to do so till the decision of Panama Papers case decision by the apex court.
Interestingly, we are going through a time when Imran Khan led PTI is trying hard to portray the Panama Papers Leaks saga as a “political victory”, regardless of whatever the apex court decides in due course.
Everybody at the top PTI tier would hate to admit it, but ground realities suggest they are making a subtle move to pin less hopes on a land mark apex court decision regarding Panama Papers.
Rather planning for post case political scenario, ground realities, which will lead with into the 2018 elections. Reliance on a mid level team of lawyers cum TV anchors – Naeem Bukhari, Senator Babar Awan – suggest the next apex court hearing would be loud, charged. And PTI would focus more on propagating its case in front of rating hungry news channel screens. Top notch, expensive lawyers are not needed for such shows, short term strategies.
And induction of another lawyer turned politicians cum anchor, Fawad Chaudhry, as a court case related spokesperson amply demonstrates PTI’s romance with tv screens and talk shows. Already, from top to bottom, PTI bandwagon is focusing and reiterating “political victory” as a major take away from Panama Papers case.
It’s a safe bet to satisfy voters and supporters. Nothing more, nothing less. The later part of November has been a sort of anti-climax for loud claims and rhetoric of Imran Khan-Sheikh Rashid duo. Shah Mahmood Qureshi would be a happy man. Now PTI would plan sort of a graceful come back to the Parliament as soon Panama court case reaches a logical conclusion within days. Or for a long haul if a commission is formed by the apex court.
With a smooth change of guard at the top military tier, the recent PTI agitation fast becoming thing of the past, and conspiracy theories weaved around the civil-military relations have taken a back seat. And PPP, with Bilawal Bhutto staying put in Lahore for a long haul, is desperately trying to have a foothold on lost political ground in the Punjab province.
One way to do it is to present the 8 years long PPP ruled Sindh province as a model of governance to attract voters and supporters, majority of whom have opted for PTI in the cities, town and villages of the Punjab. But that is the weakest point every PPP leader shies away throughout yesteryears, till date. With the new and energetic chief minister in Sindh, they cannot undo the misgovernance and heavily piled up allegations of corruption of the last many years.
Technically they are left with only less than 1.5 years till the 2018 elections. Change of faces at the top party tier, and expected changes till the grass roots level, cannot win them more voters and supporters in absence of charisma, mass appeal, that only comes from top leader – naturally Bilawal for PPP. But then the young party chairman has to carry the baggage of his father’s decisions of the past, and in the offing. Once elder Zardari is in the country, he is for sure going to pull more strings without any hindrance, PPP top tier would hate to admit.
Whatever the case may be, Bilawal has to perform, put up a formidable political fight in Punjab, KP. Win over the old firebrand jiyalas, if they exist anymore, luckily. The most daunting task would however be to win over urbanite lower middle to upper class voters who can connect with the young Bhutto-Zardari in this age of unbridled, fast-track social media. But what about the baggage of political and administrative follies of PPP rule of last 8 years, especially in Sindh province?
The decision to bring Bilawal to the National Assembly through direct elections is for sure a smart move. Whatever role he chooses for himself on the PPP or opposition front benches, one hopes Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah’s seat is secure. Or he may have to be contending with PAC Chairmanship only? Whatever the case may be, year 2017 would not only test mettle and skills of the young leader and is team of advisors, but also provide him with more room and scope to sharpen his image.
And put pressure on the ruling PML-N (Premier Sharif) and PTI (Imran Khan) to focus more on parliamentary proceedings, and make their presence felt. Feeling relieved at the moment, the Sharif led government is most likely to fulfill three demands of the PPP chairman, but in their own way.
Both re-constitution of Parliamentary Committee on National Security and implementation of APC’s resolution of CPEC are do-ables, but with a little give and take. PPP’s Panama Bill is not acceptable to the ruling party at any cost.
Already Senator Eitzaz is acting cautiously after a recent tongue in cheek remark by elder Zardari directed towards him (for hobnobbing with PTI) through an interview. Finally a full fledge foreign minister is also a do-able as we hear a reshuffle cum expansion to the federal cabinet will be on the cards sometimes in December.
Punjab province has already come up with a major cabinet expansion after a wait of 3.5 years. Though informed PML-N circles don’t expect a major cabinet reshuffle at the federal, but addition of some full ones, and ministers of state, is on the offing. We may see Senator Mushahidullah Khan staging a comeback, same goes for Senator Pervaiz Rashid facing an inquiry for new leak. Then Danyal Aziz and Talal Chaudhry are also in line for a coveted ministerial post. But then who is going vying for the post of foreign minister.
Some suggest Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, if he gets Sharif’s green signal after getting rid of PML-Q. Others think, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq might be Premier Sharif’s pick for this sensitive assignment. Or the incumbent Sartaj Aziz with a Senate seat. But then Premier Sharif has all the capacity to spring up surprises.
