The divided opposition’s major party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has made up its mind to stand by the judiciary in its endeavour for the implementation of its verdicts as it has planned to go to any extent for the purpose. The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that has been citing ‘politics of reconciliation’ as hallmark of its mode of politics appears to give it up and returning to its old fold of ‘politics of clash and conflict’ instead so-called reconciliation.

The new trends are the immediate outcome of the judgment of the apex court and the PPP reaction about it in the wake of PML-N’s belligerency. The strategy regarding dealing with the opposition has been drawn up by the government while it is also establishing contacts with the components of the opposition in the parliament which are not currently siding with the major opposition party.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has claimed that the government would establish contact with the opposition PML-N and its leaders, but practically it would not be part of the new strategy of the ruling PPP. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has already assured its all-out support to the PPP in its approach towards the opposition. The PML-Q of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is already on board with the PPP. The Awami National Party (ANP) is also being contacted by the PPP on emergency basis for the purpose. The members of the parliament belonging to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are divided on the question of supporting the government, but the division has come across due to the induction of some members belonging to that area in the cabinet which does not enjoy support the whole house of Fata.

The prime minister will personally contact the members of Fata for bringing the annoyed members back in the fold of the government. The leaders outside the parliament are also divided since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) would not take part in any movement under the PML-N and Nawaz Sharif, but they will have to evolve their own strategy for the motives of dislodging the government.

The sources pointed out that chief ministers of KP and Balochistan would also announce their support for the administration of Prime Minister Gilani within next 24 hours. The Sindh chief minister has already announced his complete support for the prime minister. The ruling alliance is of the view that the major opposition PML-N has taken up the abrupt stance to take-on Gilani administration just to pressurise the judiciary so that it should not provide relief to the leadership of the government. The support for the federal government is forthcoming from the South of Punjab and the victory of the PPP candidate in the by-elections for the provincial seat from Multan is manifestation of that and it has helped in heightening the morale of the ruling party to great extent, the sources said.

The next week commencing from Monday will have conspicuous significance with regard to the tussle between the government and opposition as the PML-N is shifting the centre of conflict to the federal capital. The whole leadership of the PML-N is assembling in Islamabad where they will put their heads together for evolving long-term line of action in the prestigious Punjab House before the separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate. The opposition if resists physical appearance of the prime minister in the either houses, it would be challenged by the ruling alliance through similar fashion. The ruling alliance would not hesitate in having any clash if takes place on that occasion since it feels that it has nothing to lose in that eventuality. The houses could witness some ugly scenes if the opposition persists with its decision. The ruling alliance would approach the judiciary for relief within the week. The National Assembly will be prorogued on 4th of the next month, while the Senate will remain in session for some days after starting on Monday evening.