The show of majority by the PML(Q)s Forward Block in Punjab Assembly would have important repercussions in Punjab. With 47 members out of a total of 83 deciding by show of majority to form the Unification Block, the PML(Q)s strength in the provincial assembly has diminished to a mere 36. This is a big comedown for a party which had hoped before the elections to control both the centre and the most populous province of the country. While still enjoying representation in all the four provinces, PML(Q)s bargaining position has now weakened considerably. Once courted by the PPP on the basis of its strength, the PML(Q) is no more in a position to play a role in challenging the position of the PML(N) for the remainder of the latters tenure.
The PML(N) is the biggest beneficiary of the formation of the Unification Block. The leaders of the new faction have announced that they would never be a party to any attempt at destabilising the present set up in Punjab. While they have announced complete support to the PML(N), they can do little else keeping in view the compulsion of numbers in the Assembly. The critics could interpret the professions of support as making virtue out of necessity. In the 371-strong Punjab Assembly, the PPP has only 107 MPAs and after the split in the PML(Q) no parliamentary group is in a position to help it form a government of its own.
The support to the PML(N) by the Unification Block would stand the former in good stead in the next elections, in case the group continues to be with the PML(N) or joins it which seems to be an obvious choice for it. The support it has promised to lend to the Punjab government should be reassuring to Mian Shahbaz Sharif. The PML(N) will henceforth have few distractions unless it decides to push the PPP around which is already cooperating with it, a course it would do well to avoid. Among other things, friendly relations with the PPP would guarantee that Punjab government has the Centres support. While the PML(N) is henceforth free to implement its agenda in the province, the development would also increase the publics expectations and add to the burden of its responsibility.
