Whosoever advised PML(N) to take out rally against democratically elected president has done irreparable damage to the party and it may be difficult to recover from its aftereffects. Mian Shahbaz Sharif used very indecent and highly objectionable language against the president that tantamounts to treason. Their rally comprised of people brought from different cities as entire administration of Punjab was involved in bringing the people to the venue, causing great loss to the national exchequer for personal projection.
I think it is a fit case of suo motu to proceed against the Punjab government for using poor people’s tax. A bewildered PML(N) Senator who claimed to have counted the chairs at Minar-e-Pakistan should have shown some grace in accepting that his assessment was wrong instead of insisting on the number of chairs.
On the other hand, Imran Khan had challenged Sharif brothers that Lahore was Nawaz Sharif’s fort that took very little time for Imran to run over. It was an excellent show by PTI where people thronged in lacs to show solidarity with Imran Khan. The crowd was not transported in government and police arranged vehicles, they all came on their own. The PML(N) is bleeding and wounded to an extent that even major surgery will not work. Despite differences with all the political parties, decency did not slip out at Imran’s rally.
The MQM took out rally in Karachi to show their support in favour of the president. MQM is a big crowd puller party with excellent discipline in the ranks, unlike other parties. This grand competition between three parties has given three different results: firstly, the PML(N) has been completely isolated from rest of the parties and the country, and reduced to just regional party with no chance of recovery; secondly, Imran Khan’s PTI shall give tough time to PML(N) in the coming elections and divide their vote bank that would only benefit the PPP; and thirdly, the MQM has improved its position.
The MQM gained enough by supporting President Zardari in this battle and now better understanding prevails amongst coalition partners, PPP, PML(Q), PML(F) and ANP. Just imagine the strength they would have in the coming elections. The only lesson to be learnt is that we must show tolerance, patience and must respect the institutions. People come and go but the institutions stay. Keeping in view the present state of political turmoil in the country, it is worthwhile to reduce the term of parliament to four years.
MUKHTAR AHMED
Karachi