KARACHI, Oct 23: Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz believe that the government is trying to achieve a ‘breakthrough’ by getting the opposition forces, especially the PPP and PML-N, agreed on a code of conduct, as well as a formula aimed at avoiding a situation of polarisation, for the upcoming general elections.
This, they say, is the latest of the government’s moves towards bring liberal parties within the opposition fold to the negotiation table.
Senior leaders of the PML-N, Sindh, Central Vice President Mamnoon Hussain, who is also a former governor, and Central Saleem Zia, Central Vice-President and Sindh chief of the party, who is also an ex-law minister of Sindh, expressing their views, said that the government had lost its credibility.
In this context, they pointed out that Gen Pervez Musharraf who heads the ruling clique had reneged on his promise of shedding his military uniform by Dec 31, 2004.
And now when the government had again been making moves to take the opposition into confidence, it appeared extremely doubtful that the rulers would adhere to the formula or code of conduct they wanted the opposition to subscribe.
“How could the opposition, considering the previous record of the rulers, believe that they will ensure implementation of such a formula or code, especially in a situation where they are already indulged in pre-poll rigging? they questioned.
Mr Hussain pointed out that Gen Musharraf, who portrayed himself as president, had on record appealed to people to vote for the ruling coalition in the upcoming general elections. “In a way, he has already started campaigning for the ruling coalition even months before the announcement of the election schedule.”
The PML-N leader contested Gen Musharraf’s assertion that the government had offered the opposition to propose a name for the chairman of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
In reply to a question, he said that Mian Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto were determined to return home soon after the announcement of the election schedule. “They are ready to endure all hardships but they do require the permission from the government to return,” he argued.
He referred to Gen Musharraf’s claim of having popular support in the country sufficient to hand a defeat to Mian Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto in election, Mr Hussain questioned that why the general was afraid of them and was not ready to allow them back home. “He should allow them to come back and also let the masses to declare their verdict,” he said.
The PML-N leaders observed that the federation had become weaker in the present regime’s tenure with no more understanding seen between any of them due to growing grievances of the smaller federating units. The spirit of unity, solidarity and integrity had eroded due to the mobilisation of the country’s armed forces against the countrymen in Balochistan and Waziristan, they said.
Saleem Zia said that Gen Musharraf’s claims that he could defeat the two popular leaders in the elections was quite interesting, adding that he must contest against them to evaluate his popularity. But, such an election must be held under some neutral international body to ensure transparency, he added.
In reply to a question, he said although the movement in Balochistan had apparently subsided, you never know when it would pick up again as the brutal military operation had inflicted deep injuries to people of not only Balochistan but also of the NWFP.
