ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has put to rest a guessing game about his embattled government at a time when opposition parties are weighing their options a day after the coalition government lost a slender majority in the National Assembly.
President Zardari threw his weight behind Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who apparently does not command the majority in the lower house of parliament, and assured him that the ruling party stands behind him.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party and its Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari have full confidence in Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and stand behind him in foiling any attempt to destabilise the coalition government,” said a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar.
While reposing confidence in his ability as the leader of the house, the president hoped that Premier Gilani would complete his five-year term, notwithstanding manipulations against him, Babar said.
President Zardari telephoned the premier and talked to him about the recent political developments. He assured Gilani of full support on behalf of the ruling party.
The presidential spokesperson also rubbished media reports suggesting that the prime minister was alone in the battle for his survival. “The prime minister is not alone. The party stands behind him. Let there be no doubt about it,” he added.
In a delicate political situation where a single move can cost the PPP its government, the ruling party’s top leaders believe it’s not easy for any political party to govern while the country is embroiled in serious economic and security crises. The Nawaz Sharif-led faction of the Pakistan Muslim League, the second largest party in the National Assembly, doesn’t want to rock the boat, or at least it appears so.
“We will not support the government but we will also not become a part of any conspiracy to topple it,” Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the opposition leader in the National Assembly said.
Nonetheless, if the Nawaz League decides to table a no-confidence motion against Premier Gilani, it’ll need support from the PML-Q, MQM and JUI-F. But Sharif’s party has never had good relations with these parties.
PML-N’s top leaders will join their heads together today (Tuesday) in Islamabad to chalk out a future course of action in the backdrop of the fast-changing political landscape. However, political pundits don’t expect any major change in the party’s line.
At the same time, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat have also started weighing their options. Their party, the Q-League, the third largest group in the National Assembly, suddenly finds itself in a significant position.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has also convened a crucial meeting of PML-Q’s parliamentary party today (Tuesday) to discuss a future strategy. And its Central Working Party will meet on Wednesday.
The Salim Saifullah-led PML-Q Likeminded, a breakaway faction of the former ruling party, has also called a meeting of its Central Executive Committee on January 5 to weigh its options. The Likeminded group claims the support of over a dozen MNAs but their parent party says that the breakaway faction doesn’t have the support of more than seven lawmakers.
Since the PML-Q Likeminded group is not registered as a separate party with the Election Commission, in case of divergent policies on a possible no-confidence vote, its lawmakers may face disqualification.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2011.
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