Jumping ship: Pakistan’s twisting, turning politicians
With elections ever so close, parties try to lure influential politicians into agreements.
Since entering politics in 1996, Arbab Khizer Hayat has switched his party allegiance 14 times, and he is far from alone. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
For politicians in most countries, switching parties is a once-in-a-career move made only after careful thought. But in Pakistan, changing sides to gain advantage is standard practice.
Since entering politics in 1996, Arbab Khizer Hayat has switched his party allegiance 14 times, and he is far from alone. Dozens of others have done so and as the May 11 general election approaches, the trend is increasing.
Hayat, a member of a landowning family with a long history in politics, has gone from the PTI to PPP to PML-N.
He has managed to stick with the PML-N for the past two years.
“When I went back to the PML-N, Nawaz rang me and joked: ‘How long are you staying with us this time?’” said Hayat, 38, with an infectious grin.
The phenomenon of politicians jumping ship is so familiar that Pakistanis often used the word “lota” for them.
Hayat is quite candid about his changeability.
“Politics is not about ideas, but about power. When politicians see a party becoming popular they want to join it,” he said.
Candidates choose the banner under which they have the best chance of being elected, while parties court powerful individuals in areas where the person’s name and influence can secure more votes than any party.
This back-and-forth movement between parties has accelerated in recent weeks as the party leaderships hand out electoral “tickets”, naming their candidates for the national assembly, the lower house of parliament.
Nabeel Gabol, elected to the assembly in the troubled Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi, switched to the MQM, shortly before parliament dissolved in March. He will stand for both Lyari and an MQM seat in May. There have also been moves by some MPs from the outgoing PPP to join the PML-N as its stock has risen.
“We had a lot of expectations that the PPP will be able to address the problems being faced by Balochistan but despite our repeated requests they did not take it seriously,” said Lashkari Raisani, an MP from the restive province who switched from the PPP to PML-N last month.
“In a country where it’s sometimes hard to trust opinion polls, the ‘lotas’ are a good indicator of trends,” a Western diplomat said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2013.
For politicians in most countries, switching parties is a once-in-a-career move made only after careful thought. But in Pakistan, changing sides to gain advantage is standard practice.
Since entering politics in 1996, Arbab Khizer Hayat has switched his party allegiance 14 times, and he is far from alone. Dozens of others have done so and as the May 11 general election approaches, the trend is increasing.
Hayat, a member of a landowning family with a long history in politics, has gone from the PTI to PPP to PML-N.
He has managed to stick with the PML-N for the past two years.
“When I went back to the PML-N, Nawaz rang me and joked: ‘How long are you staying with us this time?’” said Hayat, 38, with an infectious grin.
The phenomenon of politicians jumping ship is so familiar that Pakistanis often used the word “lota” for them.
Hayat is quite candid about his changeability.
“Politics is not about ideas, but about power. When politicians see a party becoming popular they want to join it,” he said.
Candidates choose the banner under which they have the best chance of being elected, while parties court powerful individuals in areas where the person’s name and influence can secure more votes than any party.
This back-and-forth movement between parties has accelerated in recent weeks as the party leaderships hand out electoral “tickets”, naming their candidates for the national assembly, the lower house of parliament.
Nabeel Gabol, elected to the assembly in the troubled Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi, switched to the MQM, shortly before parliament dissolved in March. He will stand for both Lyari and an MQM seat in May. There have also been moves by some MPs from the outgoing PPP to join the PML-N as its stock has risen.
“We had a lot of expectations that the PPP will be able to address the problems being faced by Balochistan but despite our repeated requests they did not take it seriously,” said Lashkari Raisani, an MP from the restive province who switched from the PPP to PML-N last month.
“In a country where it’s sometimes hard to trust opinion polls, the ‘lotas’ are a good indicator of trends,” a Western diplomat said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2013.