It was a day of landmarks in the Punjab Assembly where Shahbaz Sharif was elected as Punjab chief minister (CM) for a record third time and with a thumping majority, unprecedented for PML-N, even exceeding figures from the historic 1997 victory.
But a difference is evident in PML-N’s attitude this time, which is reflected in the CM also. With Shahbaz assuming office on the wave of absolute majority, expectations are also at an all-time high.
Election promises made by the Sharifs during elections and before it, their attacks on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government for all its ills and the manner in which the media has projected the PML-N leadership, have all led to a high bar of expectations across the country, more so in the biggest province.
Thus, people want quick fixes. Those who voted them to power cannot wait for long periods for problems that have been tormenting them for some time, especially the electricity load shedding.
Shahbaz Sharif, who probably has full view of public sentiments, said after his election, “It is time to say goodbye to electoral politics and make a fresh beginning,” hitting the nail on the head.
Some 303 MPAs voted for the PML-N designate. His party on the other had bagged 305 seats in a house of 371. It also got a somewhat similar mandate in the Centre.
With this mandate, Shahbaz Sharif should not have problems in resolving public problems. With his party having a strong presence in the National Assembly (NA), he is in a position to do as he wills. There are no coalition partners, no blackmailers, no obstacles in his way.
So it is up to him whether to go for gimmicks like “sasti roti” or laptops distiribution or Daanish Schools or working on the other hand to bring about some organic changes in the country with long-lasting impacts.
Goodies like “sasti roti” or laptop schemes are not feasible now when other provinces are in a position to demand the same from PML-N.
The CM spelled his priorities right when he said he would like to see the back of “thana and patwari culture”. If he really meant what he said, life is set to become much easier for people reeling from all sorts of problems.
The budget is round the corner and the provincial government has limited time to finalise the budget, let alone finalise it in a more creative and imaginative way.But it is the budget that underlines the direction of the government and the effectiveness of its policies.
Giving a policy statement in his inaugural speech in the legislature, Shahbaz said, “It is time to combat load shedding on a war footing. This monster has destroyed our agriculture and industry. It is load shedding that has scaled down our exports and foreign exchange reserves now amounting to not more than $ 4 to 5 billion.”
The opposition leader in the assembly also made his presence felt, showing that despite being tiny, opposition benches are still energetic.
Opposition members in a calibrated speech asked the newly elected CM to announce local bodies’ polls at the earliest.
“We have tolerated rigging in elections for the sake of democracy. In future, we will not tolerate any such practice,” Rasheed warned.
He said he was ready to lend a hand to the government in the provision of rule of law in the country.
“You cannot have good governance without the rule of law,” he asserted.
Interestingly, Moonis Elahi, the parliamentary leader of PML-Q was not present in the assembly when called by the speaker to address the legislature. He probably missed a big opportunity to make a sound impression, not only on the House, but also on members of his own party who need leaders capable of leading from the front.
With more power comes more responsibility
