LAHORE – All eyes are set upon the PML-N’s crucial meeting in Islamabad today (Friday) that will likely decide the fate of politics of reconciliation and of PPP’s ministers in the Punjab government. Following the failure of the PML-N and PPP teams to arrive at a conclusion over the 10-point agenda, the workers referendum, held by Nawaz Sharif in Model Town on Thursday, opposed further negotiations with the PPP and supported the PPP’s ouster from the Punjab cabinet.
As a last ditch effort, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani discussed the reforms agenda with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday. But political experts forecast a definite breakup and expulsion of PPP from the Punjab government, but said not all was over in the country’s politics. Few politicians were of the views that the PPP fulfilled seven of the 10-point which showed its level of integrity and mindset.
“What has been practiced and pursued during the last three years signals that the PML-N will not sabotage the process,” they opined. Another leader said the PPP’s reconciliation and PML-N’ 10-point agenda were a fixed match. “It is just a puppet show, hence, the PPP will continue to survive and the PML-N will wait for its turn to rule,” he said.
There were also some reports that the PML-N chief would make important announcements in the meeting regarding demands for amendments in the constitution, expulsion of the PPP from the Punjab government and immunity to defectors who left the party in 1999 under unavoidable circumstances. PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid told Pakistan Today that a final decision would be made on the progress report of the 10-point agenda in the PML-N COC meeting.
The party chief would seek recommendations from party leaders and parliamentarians and the opinion of the majority would prevail, he added.
