Opposition's vote of no confidence
Opposition intensifies its efforts to bring vote of no-confidence against PTI government
There is no
doubt that the PTI government is under economic and political pressure with
growing public disenchantment with its poor governance. The opposition is looking to exploit the situation.
The opposition parties have intensified their efforts to move vote of
no-confidence against PTI government.
The PPP and
PML-N is trying to overcome differences and prepare a joint strategy and plan
against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. PDM will meet on February
11 to make decisions about the future course of action.
Since the leadership meeting of PML-N and PPP
in Lahore couple of days ago, lot of behind the scene political maneuvering is
taking place. They have started to
contact the government allies. PML-N leadership met with MQM-P PPP leadership
met with PML-Q leadership to win their support against the government.
PML-Q and
MQM-P leaders also met each other to decide the future course of action. The
Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to organise public gatherings to mobilise
his supporters. It seems that political temperature is going to rise in the
country in the coming weeks. All sides are assessing their position and will
take time before making a final push.
It is just
the begriming of a long process. The no-confidence motion will need lot of
effort and home work. The opposition will have to offer the government allies
more than the PTI government. For instance, PML-Q will seek the position of CM
Punjab in return for its support. MQM-P will demand more share in federal
government and upcoming local government elections in Sindh. Balochistan Awami
Party (BAP) has its own demands in return for support.
The support
of establishment will also be a decisive factor. If establishment decided to
remain neutral then the opposition has a chance. Otherwise it will be a hard
task to oust PTI government. PML-Q has already announced that it will go with
the establishment. The opposition will also need to build momentum to put
pressure on the government. There is still lot that needs to be done before
moving the no-confident motion. It is still a long way to go for opposition.
While Prime
Minister Khan is no more confident of the establishment’s support the PDM is
still unsure if a no-confidence move would succeed against him. While there are
reasons for the establishment’s estrangement from the PTI government, the
former would not favour the fall of the PTI government without an alternative
arrangement.
The PDM knows that unless the allies abandon
Imran Khan, or a sufficient number of PTI MNAs are willing to openly vote against
their own government, there is little chance of the no-confidence move being
successful. It suits the PTI’s coalition partners to extract as many benefits
as they can from a beleaguered government.
There are
claims that some of the PTI members are willing to rebel in return for PML-N tickets
in Punjab which might not suit the latter. The PDM has therefore decided to
move cautiously instead of launching a frontal attack in the absence of solid
guarantees.
Meanwhile
going for a long march on Islamabad suits both the PPP and PDM. The bigger the
opposition’s processions the greater the demoralization in the PTI’s ranks that
could lead more PTI lawmakers to veer towards the opposition and openly rebel
against their own leadership.
The
opposition has geared up their campaign on the one side by reviving Pakistan Democratic
Movement (PDM) and on the other trying to fence their differences which still
exist.
Whether the
opposition succeeds to oust the government or not, one thing can be said with certainty
that political instability will increase in the coming weeks. The opposition’s
fresh bid will further divert the attention of the government from real issues.
It will be focused on its survival and counter political strategy.
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