While the federal government is out of the doldrums for the time being, one is not sure when the MQM is going to spring another surprise yet again, sending alarm bells ringing in Islamabad. Meanwhile, the PPP is being required to face the next challenge in Punjab where the PML(N) has put it on notice to declare its readiness to implement Mian Nawaz Sharifs charter of demands by Monday or be ready to be thrown out of the provincial cabinet.
When the charter of demands was announced it had evoked contradictory reactions. It was maintained by some that the PML(N) had finally decided to get the PPP out of the Punjab government and the charter was no more than a political move to put the blame on the PPP for the break up of the alliance. Others however put a positive interpretation on the move maintaining that in the main it was a non-partisan agenda that focused on strengthening institutions, eradication of poverty and the elimination of corruption. It was however pointed out that the ultimatum delivered by Mian Nawaz Sharif with a strict timeframe of the sort a winning general dictates to the leader of a vanquished force could create doubts about the PML(N)s motives. Many agreed with most of the points like setting up an independent accountability commission, reconstitution of the election commission to make both free from government influence, cutting down the size of the cabinet, dismissal of corrupt ministers and holding Musharraf accountable. There were however demands implicitly targeting Zardari which realistically speaking could not have been met by the PPP. One had expected that the issue of the implementation of the verdict on NRO would be left to the Supreme Court.
The beating of war drums in Punjab is most untimely. The PPP at the center and PML(N) in Punjab need time to come up to the expectation of the electorate as neither has so far fulfilled the promises made in their respective election manifestos. Both need to be pragmatic. The PPP should agree to implement the institutional and structural reforms being demanded while PML(N) should step back on demands that cannot realistically be implemented by the PPP government. Both should complete their tenures and abide by the peoples verdict at the general elections scheduled two years hence. Talks could start immediately but there should be flexibility on the date for the completion of the reforms agenda.
