Its flawed canvassing strategy
In its bid to have an unopposed and unanimous president, the PML-N government has taken some turns that, if seen through, might haunt it for a long time. It went ahead and asked the MQM to join federal coalition, ignoring its party’s Sindh chapter. The N League might also have to lose more than it is willing for if it wants to have the support of JUI-F, its federal coalition member and an aspirant to be the same in Balochistan. Putting up a presidential candidate that is supported by all is a tough task though the way the PML-N is going about it, in a typical League style of announcing its decisions first in a dramatic manner and only then looking into what it is getting itself into, is totally the reverse of how the rest of the world goes about such a task.
Concerns shown by the PML-N Sindh chapter over a visit by the senior leadership of the PML-N to MQM’s headquarters at Nine Zero show the chinks in PML-N’s armour of heavy mandate. There concerns are legitimate: the party should not have gone behind the back of its Sindh leadership while seeking MQM’s support for its presidential candidate, all the more important because it is the same party that Nawaz Sharif had once labelled as a terrorist organisation and had vowed to never work with them. Moreover, leaders like Mumtaz Bhutto, who has merged his Sindh National Front with the PML-N, Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Hakeem Baloch, who had left PPP to join PML-N have termed the tactic a repeat of what the PPP did in the last five years and for which they would not stand for. Even if the PML-N somehow manages to do away with the concerns of its leaders, the JUI-F makes for an even bitter pill to swallow. It is demanding a role in the Balochistan government for its support of Mamnoon Hussain. Already in the federal cabinet, and the KP government in coalition with PTI, the JUI-F considers itself in a position to strong-arm the N League into giving it a say in the Balochistan government. Whether the MQM and JUI-F answer to the call of the N League remains yet to be seen, but it seems the N League might have just bitten more than it can chew this time.
On the topic of presidential elections, the PPP has stood up against what it considers to be gross injustice, favouritism and a “nexus between the PML-N government, the ECP and the courts”. It is boycotting the presidential elections and has asked the Chief Election Commissioner and four members of the ECP to resign, alleging them of prejudice, “failing to protect their independence” and “partiality”. The League would have been in a better position had it not chosen this bumpy road and went ahead with a candidate, canvassing and consultation process that would have sit well with all the political parties, at least with its coalition partners.
