PM again being pushed to replace Buzdar

As the opposition parties are stepping up their efforts to send the PTI-led federal government packing, an internal debate has intensified for improving the system of governance, particularly in Punjab.

It has been learnt that a section of the government is mounting pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan to bring changes in the federal and Punjab governments.

Certain quarters are already asking the premier to consider replacing Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

 A senior PTI leader, while speaking to The Express Tribune, conceded that lack of good governance was the biggest challenge for the ruling party.

He also revealed that a section within government is again pushing for replacing the Punjab chief minister.

They also want an active interior minister to deal with the prevailing situation, which has arisen after the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) protest drive against the government.

Likewise, internal PTI surveys also suggest that the party’s voters are dissatisfied with the performance of the Punjab government.

Senior political analyst Tahir Malik believes that the main battleground between the government and opposition is in Punjab. The statements of PTI MNAs Tahir Sadiq, Sanaullah Masti Khel and Raja Riaz in which they have expressed their reservations over the policies of their own government indicate that there disagreements within the party ranks in the province.

Another setback for the PTI is that it has no alternative for its ‘sidelined leader ‘Jahangir Tareen, who used to address the grievances of the ruling party’s lawmakers in Punjab.

Malik believes that the Buzdar government’s lack of ability to deliver and high inflation are badly affecting the ruling party. The PTI’s MNAs and MPAs are also worried about securing their vote bank for the upcoming local bodies elections as well as next general polls in their respective constituencies amid the rising prices and other problems.

It has been learnt that PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is not interested in becoming the chief minister for the remaining two-and-a-half-year tenure of the PTI government.

The relationship between PM Imran and the PML-Q leadership is not cordial. Therefore, Elahi is unlikely to replace Buzdar even if the prime minister decides to go ahead with the move.

There are also reports that backchannel negotiations with PML-N leaders are still under way to ease the tensions in the wake of former premier Nawaz Sharif’s speeches.

Separately, the Supreme Court is expected to issue ot detailed judgment in the Justice Qazi Faez Isa case within a week. The detailed ruling, which will reveal the reasons for quashing the presidential reference against SC judge, may have far reaching implications on national politics.

Senior lawyers believe that it will be clear through the full court judgment as to where the superior judiciary is standing in the ongoing clash between opposition parties and the establishment.