Senator Pervaiz Rasheed

PML-N

020 means all opposition parties versus the federal government led by the PTI. The government says that all opposition parties’ leaders are either corrupt or they are the facilitators or abetting the corrupt. But, we are now up against the government because it is incompetent as it has failed to deliver on its promises. We all are in favour of fresh polls to give a new start to Pakistan. 2020 is the year of change – no, the PTI could not put the economy on right track – it is like a ‘now-or-never’ situation and the opposition has to get rid of the federal government."

"The government’s mistakes ultimately hurt the state. Challenges in the next year seem so big and dangerous – isolation in foreign policy, a dying economy. The reduction in current account deficit was perhaps the only achievement of the government in 2019. To add to this, there is a political instability in the country. There are strikes, rallies and protest demonstrations. People will come out against the government. I do not think that the PTI government will stay. They might not be able to cope with the challenges. The civil-military tensions will most likely remain high. There is the fear of confrontation among national institutions. Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif will remain away from politics in 2020 while Bilawal Bhutto and Shahbaz Sharif will remain in focus."

Senator Faisal Javed Khan 

PTI

"W

e will sail through all the challenges. It is the opposition which has lost the public’s trust. No matter what the opposition political parties plan for 2020, the PTI has big plans ranging from improving the economy to regaining momentum on Kashmir cause on international forums. Let corruption be tackled by the relevant institutions. The need of the hour is to build a Naya Pakistan, not chasing shadows or building castles in the air."

Qamar Zaman Kaira 

PPP

"W

e are focusing entirely on fighting our cases in the courts, with an aim to deliver in Sindh next year. But there won’t be any deal with the government on any issue. We, however, would support the government on policies congruent with the national cause – ranging from parliament to international issue like Kashmir."

Senator Ghafoor Haidri

JUI-F

"Like previous regimes, including governments of Premiers Benazir Bhutto (late) and Nawaz Sharif, and former president Pervez Musharraf who talked of corruption and accountability, PTI’s buzz-words appear to be another name for political vendetta. The opposition stood divided on Azadi March which is why we weren’t able to present a united front this year despite the fact that the PTI government failed to achieve its targets and could not deliver on its promise of creating a Naya Pakistan. We are coming out to protest again soon – we pledge to do this because the government remains unable to provide relief to the poor."

M. Ziauddin

Senior journalist

"I

am not sure if the opposition is planning to give a tough time to the government. It is more likely that the opposition will extend a hand of friendship. However, in case the government continues trying to force the opposition against the wall, the latter will use its numerical strength in the Upper House to get back at the government."

The biggest challenges for the federal government in 2020 will be, among other things, managing the army chief’s extension as well as pleading the former military dictator General Musharraf’s appeal in the apex court. Turning his corruption rhetoric into convictions and recoveries will be a hard nut to crack for the prime minister. Key opposition leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Shahbaz Sharif, who are now on bail continue to haunt the ruling party. TNS spoke to a few politicians sitting on opposition benches to get a sense of their future strategy on topics ranging from legislative reform to holding the government accountable.