Fractured ‘grand’ alliance: Floundering opposition emboldens government

Imran Khan refuses to join PML-N led opposition alliance; PM dismisses threats to govt.

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI:

Huddled discussions in London and Dubai appear to have limited impact on Islamabad as the fractured opposition struggles to form a ‘grand’ alliance against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) -led government.

A day after key meetings between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership, the former continues to downplay the prospects of an alliance while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) refused to join any opposition group led by the PML-N.

The floundering opposition alliance also appears to have emboldened the PPP leadership with several ministers dismissing that such an alliance would ever pose a threat to their government.

Not threatened

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the PPP does not feel any threat from the PML-N-led campaign to form a grand opposition alliance.

“It is the role of the opposition to embarrass the government and it is the task of the government to tolerate it with patience,” the premier said in Islamabad on Tuesday.

He also ruled out the threat of dismissal of his government on corruption charges.

“Dictators in the past ousted leading political figures from power on corruption charges. We would not let this happen again,” said Gilani.

The premier said the PPP was in continuous contact with the MQM leadership, adding, that “the MQM is still our coalition partner and part of the government.”

PPP leaders meanwhile continued to retort against PML-N’s moves, insisting their party faced no threat from them.

“The PML-N can only make a GT Road alliance, not a grand alliance”, said former law minister Dr Babar Awan.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said that meetings between the PML-N and the MQM in London were essential for ‘a successful democratic government.’

The PPP is not insecure about any alliance whatsoever, she added.

Cautious moves

While backdoor diplomacy between the MQM and the PML-N appear to have intensified following meetings between their leadership, the former continued to cautiously downplay such contacts. Sources in the MQM said that efforts for the formation of a grand alliance of the opposition parties were ongoing but the PML-N has not yet sent them a formal invitation.

PTI defects

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) refused to join a prospective opposition alliance citing trust deficit with the PML-N.

“PTI will not support a grand alliance against the incumbent government which is likely to be led by the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif,” said PTI chairman Imran Khan while addressing a press conference.

Khan termed PML-N’s moves to form an opposition alliance ‘futile,’ saying the party played the role of a friendly opposition in parliament during the last three years.

When the PTI demanded mid-term polls three months ago, the PML-N backed the government under the guise of saving the system, he said.

He added that his party has not received a formal invitation from the PML-N leadership to join hands with such an alliance. “The only democratic option to save the state’s institutions is mid-term elections,” Khan said, adding that “fair elections are impossible under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari.”



Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2011.