It remains to be seen
Nawaz is going to be elected Leader of the House today and would subsequently take over as prime minister. The only question is whether he will opt to seek the confidence of the entire house? While support by the whole National Assembly is by no means binding, the PPP has set an example that is worth following. When Yousuf Raza Gilani was elected unopposed, this indicated that all the parliamentary parties considered him a leader with a capacity and temperament of taking everyone along in spite of differences in political orientation. This stood him in good stead. Despite Gilani’s multifarious flaws he turned out to be an elected PM with the longest tenure while under him the PPP led administration retrieved the pledge of taking the opposition on board on key national issues. This enabled the administration to enact major constitutional amendments and enforce a consensus NFC award.
While the PML-N enjoys a solid majority in the house its position in the Senate is vulnerable. The party has no option other than building bridges with other parties to get crucial laws passed or go for more constitutional amendments that might be needed to strengthen democracy and shore and buttress the institutions. It has therefore to improve relationships with parties that are very different from it and for whom it might otherwise have little liking. For this the party leadership has to overcome its dislikes, show flexibility and convince its erstwhile critics that it would go for consensus building, which is the essence of democracy, instead of taking recourse to steamrolling the opponents. The task shouldn’t be all that difficult provided humility replaces hauteur. The MQM has already reassured the PML-N that it would support Nawaz Sharif. The PPP had withdrawn its candidates for the posts of the speaker and deputy speaker as a display of goodwill. The PPP and PTI however have decided to put up candidates to oppose Nawaz Sharif. Despite the firmness shown by Amin Fahim in contesting the election, it should not be impossible to persuade the party to withdraw its candidate in favour of the PML-N chief. Zardari’s recent interview in fact contains a hint that supports the view. Again, both the PTI and PML-N are keen to hold talks with the extremists and militants to bring peace and ensure security. Khyber Pukhtunkhwa chief minister has already indicated that his government has no intention to confront the federal government.
What is needed is to convince the opponents that the new government is earnestly keen to achieve goals that almost all parties share: end of power shortages, resuscitating economy, bringing peace and stability. For this there is a need for a little personal effort on the part of Nawaz Sharif to seek unanimous vote. But will he stoop to conquer? It remains to be seen.
