Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is said to have made a technical mistake, as it didn't allow some members of the PML (Q) unification bloc to resign and be reelected in bye-elections on a PML (N) ticket, a highly placed source within the party, told BR on condition of anonymity.
PML (N) would have saved itself from criticism of promoting lotaism (turncoats) while keeping a high moral ground had it allowed the disgruntled elements of PML (Q) to join PML-N. The PML-N only needed 10 to 12 additional members to have a simple majority in Punjab Assembly and the best way forward would have been through bye-elections after their resignation from PML-Q.
The issue, the source claimed, was that PML (N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif was simply not ready to form a coalition with the unification bloc. But the bloc and senior PML (N) leaders prevailed on Nawaz Sharif to allow the unification bloc sit on government benches. With the recent joint PPP-PML (Q) protest outside the Punjab Assembly against lotaism by PML (Q) unification bloc followed by the PML (Q) delegation meeting with the President, led by Chaudhry Shujaat, has raised the specter of PPP once again focused on challenging not only the PML (N) government in Punjab but also use its newly-found friendship with PML (Q) as a checkmate to the MQM demands.
The delegation that called on the President included Senator Waseem Sajjad, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Amir Muqam, Kamil Ali Agha, Riaz Pirzada and Ghous Baksh Maher.
There is intense speculation within the PML (N) that the MPAs of PML-Q unification bloc may create trouble for the PML-N government in Punjab if some of their members change loyalties again. When contacted, PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq confirmed that allowing some PML (Q) unification bloc members to resign and then be reelected on a PML (N) ticket was legally correct. However, he added that the unification bloc's support for the PML (N) in the Punjab Assembly is also not violative of the constitution. At present, there are 171 members of PML-N, 106 of PPP, 47 of unification block, 34 of PML-Q, six independent and six other small parties in the Punjab Assembly.
The PML (N) needs only an additional 11 members to form a simple majority - a task that does not appear daunting. However, PPP needs an unsplit PML (Q) with 81 members to form a simple majority - unlikely at present. Be that as it may there is a consensus that any coalition between PPP and PML (Q) would strengthen the opposition considerably and would prove a challenging task for the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Senator Tariq Azeem could not be reached for comments.
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