First things first
Retracting yet another stand, Gilani told the media general elections could be held earlier in consultation with other parties. While in Davos, he had maintained there was no need for early elections. The government’s wavering has led the PML(N) to mull the idea of calling a meeting of all opposition parties inside and outside the parliament to devise ways and means to pressure the government for early polls under a neutral caretaker setup and an independent chief election commissioner.
With the passage of time the pressure on the government to hold the polls before March is no more there. Political parties have reconciled to the idea of the government holding the Senate elections. Unless the SC was to sentence the PM for not writing to the Swiss authorities to reopen the cases against Asif Ali Zardari, the present government faces no threat. Even in the worst case, the PPP will continue to be in power with the help of its allies and hold the Senate polls. There is a need nevertheless to ensure that the transition to power is orderly. Gilani has himself conceded that a smooth transition of government would set a healthy tradition for the future.
Gilani also agrees with the opposition that the elections need to be fair, free and transparent. The difference between the two sides is regarding the timing of the discussions on the two crucial election related issues: a neutral caretaker setup and the appointment of a new chief election commissioner. What Khursheed Shah has said indicates the government wants to start talks on the issues after the budget has been passed and presumably after June. But if the election date is not to be taken to the farthest possible limit, talks can be initiated on these vital matters earlier also.
To bind the government to early polls the PML(N) has announced blocking of party support for the 20th amendment bill launched by the government. It has indicated that its next move would be a meeting of the joint opposition which could recommend measures like strikes, shut downs and long marches. If the government is really keen to set a tradition of peaceful transition of power, it must not delay talks on vital election related matters.
