What’s a party to do?
First, it was the decision to introduce a dual local bodies system in Sindh. Now, it is the enforcement of the 2001 LG system throughout the province. The PPP has encountered tough opposition to both the policies and that too in its traditional stronghold. In the first case, the PPP leadership was accused of betraying Sindh by laying the foundation of the division of the province. Now, agitated protestors are condemning it for introducing a system which arms the local elite with extraordinary powers and deprives the common people of whatever little justice they could occasionally get from a professional and neutral bureaucracy. Public anger is specially directed against Babar Awan who played a major role in the introduction of the dual system, sidelining the Sindh chief minister and provincial cabinet.
The government was put on the mat in the NA on Wednesday by veteran PPP leader Zafar Ali Shah who accused the party leadership of “a sell out which we will not accept”. He told Babar Awan and Rehman Malik “not to come to Sindh on such missions.” No PPP MNA was ready to defend the party policy as the tirade was continued by a lady MNA belonging to ANP. Gilani had earlier faced similar criticism in the cabinet meeting from Sindhi colleagues. The President who has taken the key decisions is in a quandary. The MQM wants him to implement the 2001 LG system which he had promised in return for bringing the party back to the ruling coalition. Sindhi legislators and ministers tell him the party would lose standing in the province if the 2001 LG system is not replaced by the commissionerate system.
While the reaction in Sindh has shaken the PPP, what provides solace to it is the absence of a viable alternative in the province. The nationalist groups spearheading the protests are badly divided. Mian Nawaz Sharif who had amassed some goodwill lost it when he showed readiness to embrace the MQM as a part of the grand political alliance visualised by him. The MQM is not in a position to dictate terms in the same manner to Zardari after the PML(Q) has joined the coalition. The problem is that the latter is also demanding its pound of flesh and is unwilling to wait any longer.