Disappointment for architect, if any

ISLAMABAD: If there were any architect behind 'grand' opposition's political show in Lahore on Wednesday last, he would have been thoroughly disappointed.

Dozens of leaders from different political parties, mainly from PTI, PPP and PAT, though made the stage impressive to look at, to their hard luck they had more empty chairs than the workers in front of them to address to.

Additionally, the joint opposition instead of causing serious threat to Sharifs and their rule, made its own divisions conspicuous with Imran Khan and Asif Ali Zardari opting not to share the stage together. Khan arrived in the public meeting only after Zardari had left the meeting.

It all ended up without any sign of danger for the ruling PML-N. On the contrary, the failed show of the joint opposition has considerably cleared the fog for the approaching Senate elections. Now there seems to be no major impediment for the Senate elections.

For PAT Chief Dr Tairul Qadri, Shaikh Rashid was the “man of the match” of the Wednesday’s show as the latter had announced his resignation from the membership of the National Assembly amid series of curses from Parliament to prime minister.

However, Imran Khan who had followed Shaikh Rashid in cursing Parliament in the same public meeting, became a reason to further the cracks in the already divided joint oppositions. A day later, on Friday, as Imran Khan repeated his curse against Parliament, the National Assembly passed a resolution to condemn Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid for using indecent remarks for Parliament.

Although a PML-N MP had moved the resolution, with the exception of only the PTI it was endorsed by almost all present there including the PML-N, PPP, MQM, JUI-F, Jamaat-e-Islami and others. “By insulting the House, they have humiliated over 200 million people of the country which is a highly condemnable act,” said the resolution which incidentally isolated the PTI.

On this, some of the PTI leaders including Ejaz Chaudhry were found attacking on social media all including PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami for supporting the resolution against Imran Khan. Chaudhry also made it sure to repeat the same curse for Parliament, which the National Assembly condemned a day before.

This situation appears soothing for the ruling PML-N, which desires to complete its tenure, have smooth Senate elections in March and on-time general elections in the last week of July this year. After the Wednesday’s depressive show of political muscle by the joint opposition and the consequent furthering of divisions between PML-N adversaries, the ruling party now appears confident to meet its goal.

In the emerging situation, the only possibility to make the PML-N governments, both at center and in Punjab, fall is to dissolve the provincial assemblies of Sindh, KP and Balochistan. The PPP is not keen to do it in Sindh. Even the PTI despite Imran Khan’s urge is not yet ready to go for the dissolution of the KP Assembly. Balochistan remains unpredictable but its lone dissolution will not work.

Ten days from now, the Election Commission will announce the schedule for the Senate elections to be held in March this year. The general elections are also hardly six months away. Time is running out to outmaneuver the PML-N.