Only PPP is to blame
Defections are not uncommon in Pakistani politics but recently their incidence has become more frequent. Numerous erstwhile Musharraf loyalists have joined the PPP, PML-N or PTI, leaving the PML-Q only a shadow of its past. Interestingly, unlike the Musharraf era when agencies and NAB played a major role in engineering defections, this time legislators are changing parties on their own. This is not done on account of differences over party programme as practically all major parties promise to follow similar economic and social policies. Some leave their parties on account of intra-party rivalries, others on account of a fear that they may not get the party ticket in the forthcoming elections. But a major factor that leads a legislator to join another party is its perceived rating or better chances of winning the elections. With old divisions between the right and left having become redundant, it is natural for the worldly wise politicians to bet on what is widely considered to be the favourite horse.
The announcement by 11 legislators belonging to the ruling coalition, nine from the PPP and two from PML-Q, is bound to boost Mian Nawaz Sharif’s morale. Three in the list of the PPP MPAs had in fact made it known three months back that they were joining the PML-N. It was decided to delay the official announcement till an appropriate moment to create a dramatic impact. After Zardari had spent a number of days in Punjab to give final touches to the election plans for the province, this was considered the right time to make the announcement.
Manzoor Wattoo, the recently appointed Punjab PPP chief, had taken up the mission to deliver the much coveted province to the Zardari. What one sees happening is altogether different. The former PPP MPA and general secretary of its Punjab chapter till last year has announced joining the PML-N along with his MPA wife. One of the defecting MPAs belongs to Wattoo’s own district. This should provide no solace to PML-Q which was already complaining against Wattoo for causing defection in its ranks because the party has also lost two from its fast dwindling group of 50 MNAs to PML-N.
The PPP had been led to believe by former Prime Minister Gilani that by raising the issue of Seraiki province it could turn the tables on the PML-N in South Punjab. That out of the 11 legislators announcing to join PML-N, six are from South Punjab might lead the PPP to rethink the strategy.