Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has finally decided to shun his political isolation and the solo attempts his party has been making to redress its grievances over alleged rigging in polls.
The biggest indication of a change of track came when Khan sent a high-powered delegation of PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Quereshi, Javed Hashmi and Jehangir Tarin, to meet the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). The meeting was meant to enlist the PML-Q’s support for the PTI’s demand to correct the affairs of the present Election Commission of Pakistan and expose the alleged rigging that took place in the 2013 general elections.
If Khan manages to establish that the public mandate was somehow stolen in the general polls, and that too with the support of other political forces, it will be very damaging for the ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Interestingly, the same day, PTI representatives also approached Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader and opposition leader Khursheed Shah and leaders of a religious party.
The results of these interactions were highly positive, much to the liking of the PTI leadership. All the parties approached were ready to lend the PTI a hand, including the PPP, which is considered too supportive of the PML-N government.
According to sources, the PTI and PML-Q discussed means to enhance political cooperation, over and above the issue of electoral reforms. The details of a political alliance were also discussed during the meeting between the two parties.
Political analysts are of the view that by seeking the political support of other parties, Khan has taken a big U-turn. Throughout the previous year, Khan opted for a solo flight as an opposition leader, thereby missing many opportunities to strike the iron when it was hot. Even during the election campaign, Khan did not approve the idea of forging an alliance.
Political analysts believe Khan’s changing tactics would make him more relevant in the political arena in the coming days.
If Khan succeeds in forging an alliance with other political forces, the judiciary, ECP and government would be more responsive to his complaints of rigging, say analysts.
In order to tackle the building pressure, the government would have to mend its fences and win a few allies. The PML-N is already trying to keep one party or the other to his side, as was demonstrated in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s recent meeting in Karachi with former president and PPP co-Chairperson Asif Zardari and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif in attendance.
Political analysts are of the view that given the present state of affairs and nature of politics, politics of isolation are not feasible.