Political temperatures have soared as the prime minister makes drastic attempts to rescue himself from the opposition’s no-confidence motion. Despite his claims of not being blackmailed, the prime minister has showered favours to placate allied parties and disgruntled members.
The biggest victim has been Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, who has resigned from this post. The prime minister has vowed to support Buzdar till the end but was compelled to make the tough decision to win support in the no-trust bid. Eventually Buzdar had to step down to pave way for PML-Q stalwart Pervaiz Elahi, as the former chief minister during Musharraf’s era, returns to the highly coveted post.
It will, however, not be a smooth sailing for the Pervaiz Elahi in the Punjab Assembly as he faces a tough opposition and even internal rifts. There will even be resentment among PTI members for handing over the post to Elahi as the PML-Q holds just 10 seats in the assembly. The veteran politician will be in solid position to handle affairs in the province. Buzdar’s ouster was being predicted ever since he was elected but he remained in power due to the prime minister’s support until the walls came tumbling.
Punjab politics remains crucial for the nation as it has an overbearing effect on the federal government. The opposition went on overdrive as it finally submitted a no-confidence motion against Buzdar, forcing him eventually to step down. PML-Q has seen its support diminishing in recent years and will hope to revive its fortunes with the chief ministership.
The PTI is making hectic efforts to woo its disgruntled allies. The MQM is being giving another ministry and deviant party lawmakers have been returning. The opposition appears frazzled as the tables seem to have changed after the prime minister claimed a foreign conspiracy was being hatched to overthrow him and the opposition was complicit.
Pakistan is witnessing a spate of political turmoil which doesn’t bode well for the economic and democratic situation. Both sides should not take measures which could harm the nation. The government appears in doldrums and the no-confidence motion might go down to the wire as we witness another chapter in our chequered history.
