Pre-election wrangling gaining momentum
The agreement between the PML-N and JUI-F on election cooperation is a significant development. Fazlur Rehman who had long been treated with disdain by the PML-N is now being seen as an ally. How the understanding finally pans out remains to be seen though certain contours of the agreement stand out prominently. Besides the NA and Senate, the JUI- F is represented in all the provincial assemblies with the exception of Sindh, The party hopes to make gains with PML-N’s collaboration in Punjab where MMA could bag no more than two provincial seats in the 2008 elections. There is already an ideological affinity between the two sides. Both parties are supposed to have a soft corner for the extremists. The JUI-F seminaries have produced numerous Taliban leaders. Even the PTI now accuses the PML-N of having a ‘nexus’ with the extremists. A party spokesman has referred to a statement by a prominent ASWJ leader claiming that the PML-N had approached him for seat-adjustments for the coming elections. This would explain why the PML-N and JUI-F have been named as guarantors for the peace talks proposed by the TTP.
The PML-N thinks that an understanding with the JUI-F will help it improve its fortunes in Balochistan where it suffered a debacle in 2008. The party also hopes to form a coalition government with the JUI-F in KP. Both the PPP and ANP are suffering from the incumbency factor in the province. Many consider the ANP’s electoral prospects are dim despite its courageous stand against terrorism and despite providing the province an identity of its own by getting its name changed to KP. A number of party stalwarts including its senior minister Bashir Ahmad Billour have fallen to terrorist attacks. Many grassroots level organisers have suffered the same fate or are under pressure from the extremists. The TTP has announced that it would continue to target the ANP as it would the MQM. This has caused dismay among some of the ANP candidates who are keen to participate in the polls. On Tuesday an ANP provincial minister resigned while a party MNA defected to another party. The PPP too is feeling the heat in the province. Being in the good books of the TTP would provide the new alliance the advantage of violence-free election campaign not available to others. In the days to come, the JI may also agree to become a part of the alliance in KP.
In Sindh, Nawaz Sharif met Pir Pagara, a pro-establishment, conservative politician, to set up an anti-PPP alliance. At a stage when the country faces an existential threat from terrorist groups, politicians are supposed to work together to bring peace and stability to the country. One can only hope that the new alliance will in no way provide encouragement to militants.