A major tremor
Clearly the president's talk of imposing discipline on PPP lawmakers has not been enough to satisfy the MQM.
The moves by the PPP to calm badly ruffled feathers amongst the MQM seem to have come to naught after all. Earlier signs that equilibrium had been restored after apparently cordial meetings between MQM delegations, the prime minister and the president have fizzled out following the decision by the MQM, after a marathon meeting, that it would pull out of the federal cabinet though it would remain a part of treasury benches.
With 25 seats, the MQM is the most important ally for the PPP which needs its support to maintain a simple majority in parliament. The PPP itself holds 125 seats. The new threat from the MQM poses for it many new problems. This is all the more so given the exit by the JUI-F which holds seven seats. Clearly, the president’s talk of imposing discipline on PPP lawmakers has not been enough to satisfy the MQM, angered by the recent comments of the Sindh home minister. The party, of course, has plenty of experience in coalition politics and how to exert pressure on governments. The failure of the PPP to keep intact its alliance could have very grave consequences for the future. This is something the party will need to think about in the wake of the situation that has arisen. It must try to analyse why it has had so much difficulty in retaining those who chose to link up with it after it was elected to power in 2008.
But for now, the PPP government faces ground that shakes beneath its feet. It will need to develop some strategy to combat the troubles it faces and ward off the looming danger. How it goes about this will be carefully watched. An alliance with the PML-Q has been talked about. Whether that party would be willing to go along with the ruling party is a moot point. It has for now not made its position quite clear. But the way politics in Pakistan functions generally means that ministries and other perks have a highly persuasive effect. Of course, there is ideology to consider. But right now, the requirement is to find stability and ground we can move safely along. This is vital both to salvaging the economy and creating the sense of political steadiness needed for this.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2010.
With 25 seats, the MQM is the most important ally for the PPP which needs its support to maintain a simple majority in parliament. The PPP itself holds 125 seats. The new threat from the MQM poses for it many new problems. This is all the more so given the exit by the JUI-F which holds seven seats. Clearly, the president’s talk of imposing discipline on PPP lawmakers has not been enough to satisfy the MQM, angered by the recent comments of the Sindh home minister. The party, of course, has plenty of experience in coalition politics and how to exert pressure on governments. The failure of the PPP to keep intact its alliance could have very grave consequences for the future. This is something the party will need to think about in the wake of the situation that has arisen. It must try to analyse why it has had so much difficulty in retaining those who chose to link up with it after it was elected to power in 2008.
But for now, the PPP government faces ground that shakes beneath its feet. It will need to develop some strategy to combat the troubles it faces and ward off the looming danger. How it goes about this will be carefully watched. An alliance with the PML-Q has been talked about. Whether that party would be willing to go along with the ruling party is a moot point. It has for now not made its position quite clear. But the way politics in Pakistan functions generally means that ministries and other perks have a highly persuasive effect. Of course, there is ideology to consider. But right now, the requirement is to find stability and ground we can move safely along. This is vital both to salvaging the economy and creating the sense of political steadiness needed for this.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2010.