The ruling PML-N seems in a mood to go for the overkill in the presidential election in a bid to gain maximum votes, but there are genuine fears in the party’s hierarchy that some of its partners in Sindh might vote against its presidential candidate.
The PML-N strategy is understandable. The government is already under fire over charges of manipulating the poll process and depriving other stakeholders of a level playing field. In the Senate on Monday, the troika – the government, ECP and judiciary – came under fire for their conduct in the presidential polls, with PPP’s stalwart Aitzaz Ahsan once again stealing the limelight.
It appeared the treasury had no answer to the speeches and arguments given by the Senators from the opposition.
The PML-N leadership and strategists feel that by putting up an impressive show in presidential elections, it would neutralise the criticism from the opposition while portraying to the galleries that those who boycotted the election were in fact afraid of the PML-N’s strength in parliament.
So efforts are on to leave the PTI candidate way behind in the contest to reflect a mismatch.
But some of the PML-N partners are already disturbing its applecart.
The PML-F, an important partner of ruling party in Sindh, has distanced itself from the entire process. Pir of Pagaro has expressed his reservations over the PML-N’s presidential candidate.
It is an open secret that Ghous Ali Shah is huffing and puffing over the naming of Mamnoon Hussain.
Similarly, other Nationalist parties that have aligned with the PML-N are not entirely happy, as they got nothing after the formation of the government.
It is not certain if the nationalist would vote the way the PML-N wishes them to vote.
The nationalists are also not happy over the PML-N’s decision to woo the MQM and the emerging relations between the two former allies.
In order to compensate for the possible loss in Sindh, the PML-N leaders are trying several things. The PML-Q leaders are bemused over the PML-N leaders’ attempts to woo its MPs in Balochistan.
Similar efforts are underway to break away the members of smaller parties. Some surprises are even in store in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In case some PTI members vote in favour of the PML-N candidate, it would be a real embarrassment for Imran Khan and his team that supported the decision to take part in the elections.
A PML-N leader said, “You never know, there can be surprises in Sindh Assembly as well.”
In Punjab, it is going to be a smooth sailing for the PML-N candidate. The Punjab Assembly, like other provincial assemblies has 65 votes. It is expected that the PML-N will get at least 55 votes or more. In the house of 371, 352 members will cast vote.
PTI’s Wajihuddin is likely to get only 26 votes with its total strength of 26 members.
The PPP with its six members and PML-Q with nine will stay away from the election following the boycott of poll.
The polling will start at 10am and end at 3pm.
On Monday, PML-N candidate Mamnoon Hussain hosted an Iftar dinner at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to make a last-minute appeal to the parliamentary party to vote for him. Addressing the MPAs, he underlined his achievements for the party.