While PML(Q)’s junior party leaders were upfront about the resignation by the party’s federal ministers being a right tactic at the right moment for getting certain mundane demands accepted, Ch Shujaat tried to put an altruistic gloss over the motives. He complained that the government was insensitive to the power crisis and had failed to summon an APC, as if this was the reason behind the resignation. Meanwhile a senior PML(Q) leader has let the cat out of the bag by giving a list of nine demands that have to be met as price for cooperation at a time when the government needs it badly.
The most crucial demands are legislation for creating the post of deputy prime minister for Ch Pervaiz Elahi and relief for Moonis Elahi, arrested on charges related to NICL scam. That no move has so far been made vis-à-vis the first issue is interpreted as reluctance on the part of Gilani to share powers with anyone else. The party considers that Gilani has shown less than desired interest in Moonis Elahi’s release. Other complaints include lack of authority, delay in releasing development funds and portfolios. The PML(Q) has rarely shown interest in principles. The party leadership took little time in disowning Nawaz Sharif and embraced a military ruler without any qualms of conscience. They subsequently carried out each and every task assigned to them by Pervez Musharraf. They supported the military ruler when he imposed the state of emergency, packed off the independent judges and they were the government on whose watch the May 12 killings took place. Even while the party is in the PPP-led coalition, it has not ruled out joining hands with the PML(N). According to Senior party leader Waqas Akram, the PML(Q) is ready to support any group or party, including the PML(N), which would raise its voice for the masses. As Riaz Hussain Pirzada put it the other day, “Our leadership is not worth standing behind. We are behind our leaders for our interests.”
When alliances are made on purely tactical bases, pressures of the sort are bound to emerge. With MQM already putting up unacceptable demands, the PPP cannot afford to annoy PML(Q). In case the latter parts company with it, Gilani will be short of 12 votes to stay as leader of the house.