Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: AFP
Unlike former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Nawaz Sharif is unlikely to be elected as the premier unopposed.
Despite their bitter rivalry, PML-N expects Pakistan Peoples Party to support Nawaz’s bid to be elected prime minister for a record third time, it will find it harder to convince Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan for support.
According to PML-N sources, this is the reason behind the party’s lack of interest in courting PTI to support Nawaz’s premiership bid. “The PML-N knows that PTI will not support Nawaz Sharif for prime minister…it has been criticising us for adopting what they call ‘friendly opposition’ against the PPP government for five years,” they added.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PML-N spokesperson Mushahidullah Khan also said that while his party would like to see Nawaz elected as the prime minister unopposed, they know certain parties would never allow it.
“PPP is a mature political party and I don’t think they will be a hurdle in this regard… [But] I doubt PTI and MQM will act the same way since both parties are using ‘emotional’ politics,” he said. The PML-N leader added, however, that there was still time to forge consensus on Nawaz’s premiership bid.
“Everyone knows PML-N has an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly and there is no harm in electing Nawaz Sharif unanimously … Electing him unanimously just like Gilani will be generate goodwill in Parliament and establish a good tradition,” he maintained.
PTI sources say the party will either field Imran Khan or Makhdoom Javed Hashmi against Nawaz for the prime minister’s slot. They added that PTI would also adopt a more effective opposition strategy as opposed to playing the role of a ‘friendly’ opposition.
“Any reconciliatory approach will contradict the party’s line,” the sources said. PTI’s demand to recount votes in various constituencies have already widened the gulf between the party and PML-N.
When contacted, PTI spokesperson Shireen Mizari said that the party has yet to decide who to nominate for the prime minister’s slot. She said the party will hold a meeting today (Saturday) to take a decision in this regard.
The other day, talking to the reporters in the Parliament House, PPP senior leader Syed Khursheed Shah also said that his party has yet to decide whether to support Nawaz or field its own candidate for prime minister. However, his tone was apparently quite soft towards the PML-N chief.
Until now in the country’s parliamentary history, Gilani is the only prime minister to be elected unanimously by all political parties. After he was disqualified following his conviction by the Supreme Court, the feat could not be repeated. PML-N fielded Sardar Mehtab Abbasi against Gilani’s successor Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.
COMMENTS (14)
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@Tahir Ali: Please don't dwell in fools paradise, unlike India, we have never had an independent country. With the introduction of Imran Khan and PTI, there is a ray of hope that the country will become independent one day in the future.
@oblique: Constructive opposition is welcome indeed a must. Petulant, arrogant, new demands daily as the tsunami proved to be a small wave, not the way to go.... Instead, begin by implementing PTI's manifesto in KP, prove yourself capable, who knows, Khan Saheb maybe elected to run the nation in the future. Instead of confrontational demands, opposition of substance in parliament would be the sensible way to proceed.
If you need mature politician who are part of parliament 6 or 7 times since 1988 Good luck with one more time for that maturity... You don
t need a rocket science to solve peoples problem, both Pml-on and ppp are part of parliament since 1988 what good they have done to the country...except few selected things.... They were never able to eliminate corruption, feudal system colonialism administrative system. Anyway hope for the best from coming government. @ Ayesha ...IK was only the 1 member of the party in 2002 he was part of the opposition but not the opposition leader .... So you can`t expect a lot now it will be the real test for IK.Mr. Mushahildullah is either very old or has memory losses. It was PPP which targeted PML N in TV campaigns....at that time PML N thought that it was very immature on PPP. Now, PPP has become mature suddenly.
STOP FOOLING THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN... these politicians have no integrity.
I cant believe an educated party will say such a thing..."Any re-conciliatory approach will contradict the party’s line,” When will PTI start taking decision for the sake of Pakistan and not just for the sake of Imran's ego and pride.
How easy is it to play with words. What the world knows as manipulators are called 'mature' politicians by PML-N in all there public appearances. There are great examples of 'maturity' without being manipulator in democracies world over. Maybe N needs to look deeper.
@Rana: You are absolutely right
Imran Khan has no impressive record of his first tenure as member parliament.
He got a chance in 2002 election but he did not demonstrate competence and presence expected of a strong second tier leader let alone an opposition leader.
If you pick up the record of 2002 national assembly proceedings anybody can see that Imran Khan was unable to make any substantial contribution
Imran Khan is unaware of Parliamentary Politics; our country is in a terrible trench where we can’t afford worthless political confrontations. Nevertheless, IK has gained huge public attention and support for the time being but in the long run his stubbornness, egoistic and restricted mindset will end up PTI to be like Jamat-e-Islami. PTI (regardless of its leadership) has a vote bank that generally is regarded as visionary, progressive, liberal and energetic, which is eager to pull country out of catastrophic situation as early as possible.
@ IKhan .. Opposition is a part of democracy. Govt should learn to live with it, instead of looking for rubber stamp oppositions
Both MQM and PTI show themselves up at their rabid best. In spite of some rigging, Mr. Sharif has won a clear majority with independents joining PMLN. Rather than dedicate their time to form governments in Sindh and KP respectively, at a critical time when Pakistan could do without instability, they ought to take Mr. Sharif's moves towards reconciliation seriously, to together form relevant policies whether economical, against terrorism, or international relations. PTI has already decided its unfortunate confrontational stance. The people of Pakistan will judge it ultimately for what it achieves in KP - at the rate they are moving, I think very little....
7.6 million people didn't vote for PTI so that they go and vote for Nawaz Sharif in the parliament. If these people wanted Nawaz Sharif they would've voted for PML-N. I hope PTI MNA's reflect the aspiration of their voters in the assemblies
All political parties should unite on steering the country out of economic crisis and developing a tax strategy which taxes all incomes from all sources.
If this is not done on urgent basis, we may not have an independent country
“Everyone knows PML-N has an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly and there is no harm in electing Nawaz Sharif unanimously … Electing him unanimously just like Gilani will be generate goodwill in Parliament and establish a good tradition,” he maintained.
Probably one of the most stupid things Ive ever read. Just because Sharif will get elected doesnt mean everyone, even his staunch opponents, should vote with the tide. In fact, in most democracies, the detractors vote against and, if things go bad, talk about how they made the correct decision and stood their ground unlike those who capitulated. In the US, almost all votes are just above majority and some members of the same party vote for and some against. This is done since weaker members of parties (a blue dog for example) are allowed to vote against their party so that at the time of the next campaign they can say they were strong enough to vote against their party based on their 'principle'.