The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seems bent on launching a decisive movement against the incumbent government, but internal divisions and the absence of an effective party structure at the lower level vital for mobilising mass protests is hampering its efforts.
Sources in the PML-N told The Express Tribune that PML-N leadership had been weighing various options to cash in on the turmoil in the country, including launching a decisive mass movement after the budget is announced.
In preparation, the leadership of the PML-N has started holding public meetings in different cities where they are criticising the government for its economic policies, the deteriorating law and order situation, poor governance and inflation. PML-N insiders say these public gathering are a preliminary attempt to gauge public support.
The PML-N leadership is also hoping to ride on anti-American sentiments in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s killing and drone attacks to regain its popularity which it had around the time of the 2008 general elections.
Some within the PML-N believe snap polls later this year or early next year are the “only way” to stop the PPP from attaining an absolute majority in the Senate. Elections for half of the 100-member Senate are scheduled to be held March next year.
PPP, with over two dozen members in the Senate, already holds the most seats and is hoping to double that number based on its strength in the provincial assemblies. This would give the PPP an overwhelming majority in Senate for the next six years irrespective of its performance in the next general elections scheduled for 2013.
“There are divergent views within the party on going for a do-or-die move. A major faction within the party says that based on the party performance in Punjab so far, the party should not expect better results in the next elections even if such a move succeeds,” a party leader said during a background briefing.
PML-N leaders say that the party is expected to adopt a go-slow policy. Its parliamentary party will try to give the government a tough time inside parliament by its firebrand leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Some in the PML-N say that the party should not make any desperate move and wait till the ruling alliance ultimately fails to deliver to the masses. “They [PPP] will not be able to make the excuse that they were not given time to deliver. We should not make the PPP political martyrs once again,” a leader who advocates patience said. The PML-N had dissolved all its party organisations back in September 2009. Several deadlines for the party’s re-organisation have passed, with the latest being March 30.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2011.
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