The increasing silent contacts between the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and ANP’s serious reservations over the promulgation of local government ordinance in Sindh have forced the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government to re-engage the top ANP leadership to maintain the ruling coalition. Sources confirmed that high-level meetings were under progress between the top brass of PPP and ANP.
In recent contacts between the two political parties, sources said the ANP had adopted a strict stance over the issue of the local bodies’ ordinance in Sindh that was imposed by President Asif Ali Zardari. A source confirmed that President Asif Ali Zardari had contacted ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan over the issue in order to convince the ANP not to quit the ruling coalition. During the contacts, ANP reportedly gave three choices to the PPP on the local government ordinance, including its unconditional withdrawal on priority.
The second option given by the ANP leadership was a little flexible, wherein it demanded the government first withdraw the local bodies ordinance for Sindh and then introduce the proposal in the National Assembly in shape of a legislative bill. The final option given to the PPP might be the most attractive, as the ANP demanded the government not to conduct the coming local bodies polls under the particular ordinance. ANP Senator Haji Adeel confirmed that the two parties were in talks, adding that the ANP had forwarded three options on the issue of local government ordinance. A number of ANP leaders, including Shahi Syed and Ilyas Bilour, are opposing continuing alliance with the PPP and are suggesting the party head to the coming polls without the PPP.
Meanwhile, contacts between the ANP and PML-N are already into an advanced stage. The PML-N is in hunt for a reliable alliance in Sindh for the coming general election, due to which it has established contacts with Sindhi nationalist parties and the ANP, an alliance that could prove troublesome for the PPP if it materializes.