These days Pakistan Muslim
League Nawaz (PML-N) is claiming that Pakistan’s present miserable condition is
due to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lead coalition government. If we examine
the performance of PPP lead coalition government during last five years, the
claim is indeed true, GOOD. Looking at the statistics mentioned in Table 1, a
question instantly rises in my mind, i.e., was PPP was so strong that they
managed to rule our beloved country Pakistan for five years with heaps of
corruption and mismanagement? I think the question is significant particularly
because PPP only managed to win 89 seats out of 272 directly elected seats, 20
more than what PML-N managed to win. PPP did not get the simple majority, but
they formed government in Pakistan primarily because PML-N joined PPP lead
coalition government along with some other political parties of Pakistan (MQM,
ANP, JUI-F, etc). The only notable opposition party at that time was Pakistan
Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q). During that time PML-N leadership was
claiming that they were doing politics of reconciliation, and they considered
their approach a way forward to the prosperous Pakistan. This again sounds GOOD.
TABLE 1: Parties’ Position in 2008 General Elections
Party Seats Won
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians 89
Pakistan Muslim League (N) 69
Pakistan Muslim League (Q) 40
Independent Candidates 31
Muttahida Qaumi Movement 19
Awami National Party 10
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal 6
Muslim League (F) 4
BNP (Awami) 1
National Peoples Party (Jatoi Group) 1
Peoples Party (Sherpao) 1
Latter PML-N came out of coalition government with the reason that PPP is not
serious in restoring judges as Mr. Asif Ali Zardari is not keeping his promises.
Their reason was again valid, but I am astonished that why they did not realize
that the person who does not keep his promises is definitely not a right choice
to lead Pakistan. This scenario brings forward some more questions, why Mr.
Nawaz Sharif did not launch a movement against Mr. Zardari at that time? Why
they remained in coalition with PPP in Punjab for three years? I guess the
answer would be that they did not want to derail democratic process, but why
they did not try for the in-house change? I have heard PML-N leadership claiming
that they do not have enough numbers (national assembly seats) to start a
movement for the in-house change. Keeping in mind the number of seats won by PML-N,
their claim again seems quiet valid. But, PML-Q was offering their support to
Mr. Nawaz Sharif, and it is on record that they were offering complete support
to Mr. Javed Hashmi, provided PML-N nominates him as a candidate for
presidential elections. That offer was turned down, claiming that PML-N would
NOT form an alliance with Musharaf’s alliance. Again to an ordinary Pakistani
citizen their stance seemed reasonable, considering that those people assisted
Mushraf.
Since Imran Khan’s 30th October, 2011 gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore, PML-N
changed their stance, and started to accept number of PML-Q leaders in their
party. This means they felt Imran as a threat to their chances in 2013
elections. But previously PML-N was claiming that they were doing politics of
reconciliation and principles then why they broke their principles due to
Imran’s threat? Why they did not break their principles when parents were
selling their children, when people were getting jobless due to non-availability
of electrical power, and when corruption was at its peak? If they would have
formed an alliance with PML-Q, MQM may have joined their alliance (during last
five years MQM left PPP lead coalition government many times, and at one stage
they offered PML-N to negotiate with them for a possible in-house change, but
PML-N declined). Had they joined hands with PML-Q and MQM, they may have brought
an in-house change, and as they claim they may have started their struggle for a
prosperous Pakistan. Moreover, had PML-N formed a coalition government, they
would have exposed their alliance, if they would have refrained from positive
changes. This move could have provided more favorable chances to PML-N in 2013
elections. Keeping in view the last five years, PML-N was not doing politics of
reconciliation and principles (as demonstrated by their acts), actually they
were protecting PPP government because they had a deal with PPP, i.e., “phalay
app ki bari, phir hamari bari”. Therefore, please consider facts before voting.