By Naveed Miraj
ISLAMABAD: Whilst a tug of war has been witnessed between the parties in coalition government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf to secure the top seat of Punjab, which is likely to see its culmination during the run-off election in Punjab Assembly today, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), for the surprise of many, appears to be more adamant and leading efforts to turn the number game in favor of Hamza Shehbaz, the current CM Punjab.
Following a landslide victory in recent Punjab’s by-polls, PTI has now sufficient numbers in the provincial assembly to get its candidate Pervez Elahi of PML-Q installed as the new CM Punjab, if all the things go smoothly.
However, according to sources, it will not be an easy sailing for Pervez Elahi given the fact that PPP Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari himself is involved in political maneuvering to turn the tables in favor of Hamza Shehbaz- something which has also rung alarm bells in the PTI camp.
The sources said there is substance and credence in the assertions of PTI leaders that Asif Ali Zardari is involved in horse trading and buying the loyalties of certain MPAs from the other side of aisle to inflict a defeat on PTI.
Given the importance of Punjab province in the current situation and overall electoral politics, the sources said that the PML-N also wants to save the slot of CM, and therefore, demonstrating an aggressive posture.
“However, during their internal meetings, the PML-N leaders have conveyed to the PPP leadership that they should not go to the extreme levels, fearing this will only further heat up the already tense political situation and provide more room to the PTI leadership to win the sympathies of more people in the province.
The sources said that the PPP Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, however, is desperate to see Hamza Shehbaz as the provincial chief minister at all costs. “By any possible means, he wants to win the run-off elections for Hamza Shehbaz. For this purpose he has been in Lahore over the last few days and involved in political wheeling and dealing. Money of course is not an issue for him and through third persons; he is offering substantial amounts to purchase the loyalties of PTI members.
When asked as to why Zardari is going this far for the PML-N-once the bitter opponent, the sources recalled that both the PPP and the PML-N had signed an agreement prior to forming government in the center. “ Under this agreement, the PML-N will support forty candidates of PPP on Punjab Assembly seats and twenty five on National Assembly’s seats from Punjab in the next general elections,” they said adding that it suits the PPP that Hamza stays as the Punjab Chief Minister for full implementation of this agreement and to gain some ground in the province where it has currently no presence at all. They said the PPP Co-Chairperson is eying to form the next government in the center by winning these seats in Punjab.
“Without the PML-N support, the PPP cannot win the seats in Punjab,” they concluded.
