New govt: Energy crisis tops PML-N’s priorities

Ahsan Iqbal lists economy, energy crisis and militancy as the most pressing issues.

ISLAMABAD:

The gruelling energy crisis, which is partially blamed for the drubbing of the former ruling party – PPP – and its allies in the May 11 elections, tops the priority list of its successor, the PML-N.

“Tackling the power crisis is definitely the first thing we will do,” said PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal. “However, reviving the economy and dealing with security issues are equally important and will also be given due importance,” he added.

The party is now set to implement the long- and short-term plans it has promised in its manifesto to overcome the burgeoning energy crisis. “We have already starting working along these lines [of the manifesto],” said Iqbal.



To a question about the upcoming National Assembly session, he said that those at the helm of affairs should summon the lower house session as soon as possible. “Federal budget will be announced in June and, for that, we need ample time,” he added.

According to media reports, the National Assembly session would be summoned on May 28. However, this was not confirmed by the National Assembly Secretariat. These reports came a day after caretaker Information Minister Arif Nizami and Law Minister Ahmer Bilal Sufi said powers would be transferred to the new government within 21 days, i.e. June 2.

According to a party official, the PML-N has decided to present a national agenda to all parliamentary groups for effective collaboration.



In this vein, he referred to Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital to enquire after the health of ailing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.

The official said that although PML-N has emerged as the majority party, it will not go in for a solo fight to steer the country out of the crises.

Recent reports indicate that the party is still short of 11 NA seats of the 137 required to form a government. However, the official expressed confidence that, unlike the previous PPP government which had to deal with several demanding coalition partners, the PML-N will be in a ‘comfortable position’.

He mentioned 26 independent candidates who had won NA seats, and how many of them had expressed their willingness to join the party.

According to election laws, an independent candidate has to decide within three days of his notification by the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding his affiliation with a party. The ECP has not issued notifications yet, but several independent candidates have already been contacted by the PML-N.

The ECP will issue notifications after the candidates file details of their election expenses in the prescribed manner. In this regard, the ECP has asked all winners to submit their details by May 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2013.