The Supreme Court’s decision to change the date of the presidential election over and above majority of stakeholders’ desire has brought into disrepute, both nationally and internationally, the entire polling exercise and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stance during the entire episode indicates the ruling party’s desire for a solo flight in politics.
Political analysts and leaders say that the way the PML-N handled the controversy brought out its approach towards politics and political parties, as if Sharifs and their political aides were least interested in politics and political parties for the time being, reveling in wielding their new-found powers and mandate from the recent elections.
There are no efforts on part of the PML-N leadership to pacify the PPP leadership or others. Nor has there been any effort on its part to create consensus over the presidential candidate despite suggestions from national leaders in this regard.
The Sharifs have missed two opportunities to seize initiative and avoid creating controversy. First was when it decided to go to the SC after the Election Commission turned down its request to change the poll schedule. It could have avoided controversy had Raja Zafarul Haq in his petition before the apex court named other leaders in parliament the stakeholders. In that case it would have been binding on the SC to issue notices to other parties. If the government failed to involve other parties, the ECP official did not try to highlight or agitate this point before the court.
This gave an opportunity to PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan to trace a nexus between the government, SC and ECP. The Aitzaz-led PPP team presented its case quite effectively and convincingly in the eyes of most political folks.
Even after the decision, the PML-N leaders could still engage the parties, especially the PPP and PTI, for a damage-control exercise for the sake of optics, if not genuine reconciliation. But there was no effort from the party when there was already rumour of boycott of election from the PPP and PTI.
The PML-N’s reluctance in this regard is beyond comprehension, said one senior politicians. “With its success assured, the PML-N should have gone an extra mile to avoid any controversy and convince the political leadership to stay away from the boycott,” he commented.
But again, no such thing happened, making the entire presidential election controversial needlessly.
The political leaders recall the way PPP managed the last presidential elections, giving every party a chance to contest and still coming out victorious.
The controversy has served to energise and activate the opposition. Those watching the opposition are quite impressed the way a team spirit is developing in the PPP. Amin Fahim, Khursheed Shah, Aitzaz Ahsan, and Raza Rabbani have made their case quite effectively. They not only took all parties on board but they almost managed to secure the backing of PTI chief Imran Khan. This underline the prospect of opposition parties coming together in the future if need be.
It was learnt that some politics came in the way of a joint announcement from the PTI and PPP.
“I think both wanted to take credit and lead the way. This pre-empted both sides to jointly announce the boycott,” a source privy to talks between the PPP and PTI said.