The principal apprehension about the PML(N)s decision to jettison the PPP members of the Punjab cabinet is the possibility of going back to the politics of the 90s. The politics-of-the-90s is indeed an effective bogeyman, brought out by pro-democracy political analysts whenever the political class wont eat its vegetables.
Is this apprehension reasonable in this particular case? Yes and no. The evolution and political maturity of the two major political parties has shown that the more distasteful features of the peculiar politics of that decade are now a thing of the past. Though the PPP has always been clear on the issue, the PML(N) has also come to demonstrate that there is not a chance ceding ground to non-political forces. Having discussed this particular shift in the style of politics, however, there can be no denying the fact that the parting of ways of the two parties at the Punjab level will not rock the boat in this very sensitive nascent stage of our democracy. The repercussions of this move are bound to show up on the federal level as well. Consider for instance, the bargaining position of the PPP with the other coalition members, particularly the MQM. Granted, the PPPs parliamentary well-being shouldnt be the PML(N)s main interest. At this sensitive juncture in the countrys history, there needs to be a continuity of governance and for elected governments to complete their tenures.
Even at a party level, the PML(N) has much to lose from the increase in friction. Given the Leagues admirable refusal to cooperate with the powers that be, its far from stellar performance in the Punjab government and a loss of moral higher ground by accepting members of the Q League back into its folds, any possible electoral exercise does not bode well for the PML(N) either.
On the fig-leaf that the PML(N) uses to dress up the power play: the 10-point agenda that the PML(N) had given to the PPP had a laughably short deadline. The latter did not do too bad a job, as Raza Rabbani said in his press conference, in making some headway on the issues on the agenda.
The PML(N) has erred.