Punjab gives Khan a shy at early general election – but there is the matter of rewriting the electoral rulebook.
By Riaz Missen
ISLAMABAD: After former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) scored a thumping victory in Sunday’s crucial by-election in the Punjab province, all eyes are on whether the provincial government of its archrival Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) can survive.
PTI required to win 13 provincial assembly seats to defeat Hamza Shehbaz, the sitting chief minister, in a runoff election in the assembly slated for July 22, 2022. It has now won 15 in direct election and is set to secure a proportionate number of reserved seats, putting it clearly ahead of PML-N.
Observers say the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may yet have a trick up its sleeve to show better numbers, but others contend Khan’s party is equally well placed to spring its own surprises and emerge victorious.
An even bigger problem for PM Sharif is that what happens in Punjab almost never stays in Punjab. The party at the helm in Pakistan’s most populous can make life very difficult for the prime minister – especially when backed by a favorable president – as shown in 1990 when the then CM Nawaz Sharif, in cahoots with Ghulam Ishaq Khan, forced Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to resign.
That Arif Alvi, a Khan nominee, still occupies the presidency may come in handy for PTI at this juncture.
Although the PTI is set to reveal its detailed strategy after its core committee meeting convened today, Imran Khan has made it abundantly clear since his ouster he wants the Sharif cabinet, backed by Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), to immediately resign and call general election. The victory in Punjab gives his demand more substance.
Khan’s PTI has already resigned from the National Assembly, although its members have maintained a policy of ambiguity over the issue by not certifying their resignation in person. Meanwhile, they continue to draw their salaries and enjoy fringe benefits of assembly membership.
If things go as expected, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, a leader of PTI’s coalition partner Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) will replace the PM’ son Hamza Shehbaz as Chief Minister.
Elahi is on the record having said he will lost no time to dissolve the provincial assembly if asked by Imran Khan. Yesterday’s electoral victory in Punjab can thus become Khan’s ticket to an early general election.
Chaudhry Elahi, in the capacity of Speaker, has convened provincial assembly session today to mull over the future course of action.
Insider say the PTI may prefer to keep the political setup intact for a brief period to undo the amendments introduced by PDM to electoral laws reversing Khan’s electoral reforms instituting electronic voting.
The party is under immense pressure from the overseas Pakistan, many of whom are its major sponsors, who are major backers of electronic voting.
PDM parties and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) say there is not enough time to duly test and roll out an electronic voting system before the next general election, due next year. They also argue overseas Pakistanis can still vote in person at the polling stations set up as Pakistani embassies and consulates abroad.
Overall, Pakistan is set to see another period of political uncertainty marked by partisan wrangling and shifting political alliances, which bodes ill for the country’s beleaguered economy.
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Simple story, difficult to contradict.
Let us see what come out from the house of Shujat whose disobedient
Cousin pervaiz Illahi is the candidate
for the slot of Chief Ministership of Punjab. The Pmlq votes will matter. Pmlq president shujat has to decide in which box party votes will go.