PML-N has its way but with a fair bit of controversy
That PML-N candidate Mamnoon Hussain was going to win the presidential polls was a foregone conclusion. With a solid mandate from Punjab and support provided by the allies particularly in Balochistan, the PML-N had enough votes to get its candidate past the post with comfort. For the sake of emphasis, the party also sought and received the backing of the MQM and the JUI-F. President-elect Mamnoon Hussain had promised to act as a neutral head of state above party affiliations. It would have been more in line with his promise if he had abstained from ascribing motives to the PPP for boycotting the polls on the eve of the elections. With so many other PML-N leaders criticizing the boycott, the presidential nominee did not really need to join the noisy chorus.
According to the announcement by the CEC, Mamnoon Hussain secured 432 votes from the Parliament, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies. His opponent, the PTI candidate Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, who was hopeful of winning the polls, secured 77 votes – less than one fifth of the total. Out of the 69 lawmakers who cast their votes in Sindh Assembly, 64 voted for Mamnoon Hussain indicating that the row over PML-N delegation’s visit to Nine Zero did not have much effect on Nawaz Sharif’s Sindhi allies.
The presidential election is now over. The controversy generated by its being brought forward that led the PPP to boycott the elections, however, continues to vitiate the atmosphere. What is more, it is likely to have repercussions in the days to come. Many think that instead of going to the court the PML-N should have resolved the issue through talks with other candidates. There is also a perception that the boycott has in no way helped the PPP or the system. In fact little was done by the PML-N and PPP to agree on a consensus candidate. The former was carried away by the strength of its mandate while the latter thought it would be supported by the opposition. The PPP however was isolated even amongst the opposition as its erstwhile allies like the MQM, the JUI-F and the Balochistan chapter of the PML-Q supported Mamnoon. That the boycott would impact the future relations between the PPP and PML-N was clear from Nawaz Sharif’s statement that the PPP has set a bad precedent and its leaders would regret the decision in the years to come. The fact that the Supreme Court decided in favour of one party without listening to others has provided the PPP an opportunity to accuse the court of acting with a bias. The PPP has further accused the ECP of abdicating its independence. The episode thus would strengthen the perception that the establishment and superior judiciary tend to put their weight behind those who advocate right of the center views tinged with religiosity.