ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, talked about a “Greater Plan” aimed at removing the PML-N government and dismissing the assemblies but there is nothing concrete available to implement such a plan.
Tension between the PML-N government and the latent forces have been continuing since the 2014 sit-in days but now it has turned into quite an open fight. In the recent weeks one side witnessed evident role of “unknown” callers and persons approaching the PML-N MPs and its key workers to divide and dent the party. The PML-N, on the other side, has started attacking the opponents like never before for playing with the system.
The speaker apprehended that the assemblies may not complete their term, but neither is he clear nor is anyone else as to how the government would be wrapped up and the assemblies dismissed.
There could possibly be more sit-ins and protests by the opposition in the near future but as the situation stands today, the government and the assemblies cannot be dismissed and dissolved unless the country sees another martial law.
Constitutionally, the prime minister has the power to dissolve the assemblies for early elections. The prime minister can also be removed through a no-confidence motion or by the courts as happened in the case of Nawaz Sharif. There is no other constitutional way to oust the government and dismiss the assemblies. Interestingly, in the present situation, neither the prime minister has any intention to dismiss the government and dissolve the assemblies nor has he lost the confidence of the majority of NA members. So far the opponent forces have failed to seriously dent the PML-N or break the party to an extent where it becomes hard for the government to survive. If the prime minister does not resign, if the PML-N does not split and its majority in the National Assembly remains intact, how would the “Greater Plan” work?
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed the fears that the assemblies might not complete their term, adding that he is seeing a “Greater Plan” in the offing. Ayaz Sadiq said: “What is happening now has never been witnessed before. I am not an astrologer…I hope it [the National Assembly] completes its constitutional term but I do not foresee that happening.” He added: “I feel something is about to happen… things are drastically different from 2002 and 2008.”
Ayaz Sadiq did not name the authors of the “Greater Plan” but expressed serious doubts that the government and the assemblies would complete their tenure. The latter part of his statement has upset many within the PML-N. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly denied what Ayaz Sadiq said and insisted that the PML-N government will complete its tenure and elections will be held on time. According to a federal minister, Ayaz Sadiq’s statement has caused serious doubts even in the minds of the PML-N MPs and has furthered the uncertainty.
