- Whatever its form, they’ll like to have a weak government
Despite the PML-N leadership being in hot water many thought two months back that the party stood a chance to win majority seats in NA albeit with a smaller margin than in 2013. Then gradually the ‘aliens’ started to make their presence felt. A hidden hand was perceived to be indicating to the electables the way the wind was destined to blow. The media was pressurised to withdraw comments that didn’t suit the policy formulated by offstage players and was told to report events the way they saw them. The ‘aliens’ conducted field surveys to help the PTI choose its nominees as was revealed early this week by one of its frustrated ticket aspirants. The PML-N’s dyed-in-the wool activists still continue to stand by it but how its common supporter would act on the polling day remains to be seen. An apparently dispirited Shahbaz Sharif maintains that even if the PML-N won majority it would go for a national government. But as the PTI and PPP wouldn’t touch PML-N with a barge pole the idea of a national government seems unrealistic.
The strife between PTI’s old timers who were denied tickets and the fresh entrants who got them continues to rage. The youthful idealists who worked overtime in 2013 elections for the PTI which they considered to be the party of change have lost much of their enthusiasm. Some might not even go to cast their vote this time. It would therefore be premature to predict the electoral fate of the PTI. There are indications that some in the party itself are not certain of its victory. In case of failure to get a majority the party seems willing now to shake hands with the Bilawal-led PPP and the independents to form a coalition government.
There is a perception that the ‘aliens’ may not like a strong civilian coalition government and would instead go for an inexperienced PM like chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani. There is therefore little chance of a strong civilian set up taking over after July 25.