Is opposition alliance on the cards?

Seems unlikely anytime soon

Finding it hard to create a significant constituency in any of the smaller provinces, the PML-N has decided to concentrate on Punjab to reach the corridors of power after 2018 elections. The Punjab government chose eye catching development schemes like expressways, underpasses, flyovers and metro bus projects in the fast expanding major cities of the province. In rural areas it improved roads and has recently promised Rs100bn as ‘placatory package’ for agricultural development. With promise to end load shedding before the end of its present tenure, the PML-N hopes to secure both urban and rural Punjab. A realisation is gradually emerging in the opposition parties that in case they remain divided, they stand to lose to the PML-N once again. As Ch Shujaat Hussain put it the other day, a divided opposition cannot replace the PML-N government.

One of the hindrances in uniting the opposition has been the PTI’s attitude. Imran Khan has long believed that he needed no alliance to win the next general elections. The PTI received a setback after losing four national and two provincial elections in Punjab in the wake of the Islamabad sit-in, besides one NA seat in Karachi and one in KP. After putting up bad performance in LG elections in Punjab, it lost another NA seat in the province. This creates the possibility of Imran Khan deciding to put an end to the policy of solo flight.

The PPP, meanwhile, is out in the streets both in Sindh and Punjab to condemn the PML-N for letting Pervez Musharraf leave Pakistan. The Opposition, however, remains divided over Musharraf’s issue as well as on the recently enacted law to protect women against violence. Khursheed Shah criticised the PML-N government for letting Musharraf leave the country. Interestingly, he was supported by PTI’s Shah Mahmud Qureshi. Presently the opposition is united only on opposing PIA’s privatisation. It would be difficult under the circumstances to hope for the emergence of an opposition alliance anytime soon.