The
National Alliance(NA) was formed in order to bring likeminded
parties together enabling them to gather their resources and run a
collective campaign in the forthcoming elections. It was said at
the time of its formation that it would be evolved into a Grand
National Alliance increasing its member parties to over a dozen.
There were many suspicions and questions flying around about its
peculiar formation and stature. The PML(QA) was also tipped to
join the NA at a later stage but that also never happened and
always looked unlikely. It is now clear that PML(QA) will be
taking a solo flight as it has made it clear that it will not be
joining any Grand National Alliance nor joining hands with any
other party. Baring in mind that both the PML(QA) and NA were
allegedly formed and are supported by the government, it raises
the question of why the government has formed two different
entities which are apparently both fully supportive of the
government. Especially when they will not be merging to form a
Grand National Alliance. There are several proposed theories on
the reasons behind the formation of the NA existent in various
political circles.
One of them is that the aim of the NA was to box in various
parties so that they could be curtailed and bound, making the way
clear for the PML(QA).
Well, as the NA is an election alliance, member parties lose their
independence to a great degree as they are now bound by the rules
and regulations set down by the NA. A prime example of this is the
dissatisfaction of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) with the
limited role it has been allotted in the NA. Other than isolated
reports of PAT's dissatisfaction in the past couple of weeks there
has been nothing concrete indicating such feelings from the PAT
leadership until this week. Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri chairman PAT on his
arrival from his European tour has confirmed these reports and has
accepted that his party members and workers have rejected PAT's
decision to join the NA, especially after the humiliating and
limited role which has been given to it. He has been reported to
have said that his party has given him the discretion to make a
final decision on whether or not to leave the NA once and for all.
Thus, PAT's open declaration that the NA is trying to limit its
role supports the apparent claim that the NA was formed to
deliberately curtail member parties. Well this strategy has proven
to be successful until now and may have proven to succeed if it
was not for the political awareness shown by PAT including its
members and workers.
Regarding the PML(QA), the member parties of the NA have lacked
the ability to oppose or criticize the PML(QA) as it was seen as a
potential member of the NA. With all member parties ceasing to
have independent roles and having to adhere to NA policy which,
apparently was not to oppose the PML(QA) then the claim that the
NA was clearing the way for the PML(QA) would be justified.
Another proposed theory on the formation of the NA is that it was
merely created to give Farooq Laghari a suitable platform for him
to promote himself as an able politician as his Millat Party is
not a large enough party to achieve such a purpose. Well although
Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi is the president of the NA it is clear to all
that he was given the slot due to the inability of member parties
to agree on any one else, or as PAT would put it, he was
forcefully given the slot to deprive PAT from gaining the post.
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About
Writer:
Mr. Jawed Iqbal, is an independent writer and a
political analyst. His articles appear in printed and
electronic media of Pakistan. |
Well there have been statements
of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri in the press over the past couple of weeks
saying that his party will not be allowed to be used as a step
ladder by anyone. May be these were clear hints that he was aware
of this hidden strategy of using member parties to promote Farooq
Laghari placing him in a position to be inducted into the next
government.
Another theory is that the government is working on a
multidimensional plan with many contingency measures being taken
into consideration. As part of this plan it is said that Imran
Khan,s Tehreek-e-Insaf has been deliberately kept out of the NA so
that the government can turn to it if need be as a contingency
measure. The reason why the government would prefer Imran Khan as
opposed to PAT, although both may have similar views on most
issues, is that PAT is seen to have a considerable amount of
people power, which the government may see as a threat to its
plans.
Well it is clear that the PML(QA) is the government’s first
choice especially after the shocking revelations of senior
government officials instructing Nazims to fully participate in
the PML(QA) election campaign. This only concludes the whole
devolution process as a fraud, as previously Nazims were forbidden
from any political affiliation. Well, if these theories have even
an iota of truth in them, which it seems they do, then it would
seem that the only option available to PAT would be to leave the
NA.
As Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has repeatedly said that he will prefer to be
in the opposition rather than a government, which is not giving
PAT its due share in power. Currently the opposition is leaderless
as leaders of both the PML(N) and PPP are in self exile and the
only cabinet Nasrullah, the ARD boss has a chance of reaching by
October, is his coffin. Thus PPP and PML(N) workers and supporters
desperately need a leader who can lead them to success in the
October elections. So the proposition of leading the opposition is
a tempting one for Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, as he will have all the
freedom he needs to run a successful alliance, which he was not
given in the NA. Furthermore, PAT will have a much greater and
important role within an opposition alliance with parties such as
the PPP and PML(N), than it can have under the NA even if it was
given its leadership. Everyone is also aware of the success of PAI
under the leadership of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri thus there will be
pressure from both the opposition parties and PAT to opt for such
a setup. If such a step materialises then it would certainly spice
up the current political scenario which is currently being
dominated by the PML(QA) through the maneuvering of the
government.
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This
article published in;
Daily
Statesman |
Government Plot Exposed