Opposition parties to form a unified front

JUI-F remains only party that had tried and failed to take the government down

LAHORE:

Three main players of the 11-party opposition camp, with three different grievances and approaches will be forming a joint front against the government to chalk out a unified strategy in the Multi Parties Conference (MPC) scheduled to be held on Sunday (today) to achieve the shared goal of sending the PTI-led government packing.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) remains the only party that had tried and failed in the past to take the government down by taking out a march from Karachi to Islamabad, which culminated in a sit-in.

The JUI-F Azadi March was also an outcome of the previously held MPC, though the PML-N and PPP had wanted the march to be delayed but the party went ahead with it.

Both the PML-N and PPP did extend symbolic support to the march but their limited backing led to a rift in the opposition camp.

However, the JUI-F with limited presence in the National Assembly did manage to present itself as a formidable force with the potential to give the government a tough time with its Azadi March.

The JUI-F had never wanted to be a part of the assemblies in the first place and also advised other parties to boycott the proceedings of the House but the PML-N and PPP disagreed to the proposal.

The opposition parties formed an alliance for free and fair elections but given the unwillingness of both parties to take to the streets along with the JUI-F and their principle stand on letting the government function, the alliance soon became a thing of the past.

Subsequently both the parties offered support to the PTI government.

Nawaz league President Shehbaz Sharif then offered to work with the PTI government under a Charter of Economy, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto lent support to the government for the well-being of the people.

But this time around it was a different story as all the parties agreed on sending the PTI government home.

The JUI-F primary grievance was about rigged elections, PML-N was concerned about the volley of NAB cases against their main leadership while for PPP it was the fear that government might fiddle with 18th amendment and restructure the NFC award.

The JUI-F wanted the government to be sent packing through a street movement to show its might to the PTI leadership.

The PML-N, under the leadership of Shehbaz, wanted to topple the government by pressurising its allies to withdraw their support and subsequently move to a mid-term election but did not apparently agreed with the politics of protest, as stated by its president on a number of occasions.

Though Shehbaz himself has a limited control over the party, his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, the actual man in command, seems to be in favour of gradually building a movement.

In order to ensure that the PML-N does not back out from any such proposal, if agreed during the MPC, Sharif himself was planning to become a part of the MPC via video link.

Maryam Nawaz on the other hand would ensure that the PML-N follows Sharif’s instructions.

Meanwhile, the PPP does not want to lose its government in Sindh and instead of mid-term elections, only wants an in-house change in the Centre.

The PPP also did not agree with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s street movement where it feared the JUI-F would use a religion card.