‘N’ backtracks from anti-govt strategy

After failing to take the much trumpeted ‘Go Zardari Go’ movement to its logical end, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has, on the advice of smaller opposition parties, shelved its three-step strategy devised on January 12, in a joint meeting of the central working committee and parliamentary party to send the PPP-led coalition government packing. The PML-N central leaders had decided on January 12 in a hurriedly-called meeting chaired by Nawaz Sharif that the party and other opposition parties would move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. They had also decided that in case of failure, which they were considering sure, the PML-N would lead a long march towards Islamabad and if the second option failed too, the party’s lawmakers would tender en-bloc resignations from parliament and provincial assemblies. Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had also hinted in a press conference outside the Parliament House the same evening that his party might bring no-confidence motion against the PM. He had further announced that the PML-N, along with other opposition parties including PML-Likeminded, PPP-Sherpao, JUI-F and JI, would give a clear roadmap to remove the PPP government in a day or two. “The three-step strategy to remove government had been unanimously devised by party’s central leaders, but it was the resistance from other smaller opposition parties like the JUI-F, JI, PPP-Sherpao that forced the PML-N to drop the plan,” said a PML-N leader seeking not to be attributed. He said the whole central command of other opposition parties disagreed with the PML-N’s three-step strategy and was unanimous on the viewpoint that any no-confidence motion against the PM would inadvertently turn into a confidence motion for Gilani, as the opposition lacked the required strength in the House.
The source said Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Mahmud Khan Achakzai and Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao rubbished the PML-N’s proposals of a long march and tendering resignations from the assemblies, saying the options could damage national integrity.
“These leaders reminded Nawaz that he would be unable to pull masses from Sindh and Balochistan out for the long march and it would consequently provide an opportunity to the PPP to play the Sindh card … Qazi and Sherpao also cautioned Nawaz that any attempt to dissolve the Punjab government by his brother Shahbaz would also restrict his party’s growth in other three provinces, as this step would be taken against national harmony,” the source said.
Khurram Dastgir Khan, PML-N deputy secretary information, said no-trust decision was not final, as there was a powerful argument from a few leaders that a no-confidence motion against the PM without the required strength in the House would mean creating legitimacy for the government for another six months.
“If the no-confidence move fails, you cannot bring similar move for another six months,” he said, adding that personally, he was in favour of moving no-trust motion against the PM as it meant withdrawing PML-N’s support for the PM, who had been declared “dishonest” by the apex court.
Dastgir said the PML-N was leaning towards the long march option for which masses were being mobilised across the country. “Consultations are underway within the party whether to lead only a long march towards Islamabad or also tender resignations from the assemblies. A final decision will be made soon,” he added. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif left for London along with his family on a 10-day personal visit on Saturday.