March 03, 2008	Monday	Safar 24, 1429

KARACHI, March 2: The Pakistan People’s Party cadre is concerned over the delay in government’s formation and the indecisiveness of its leadership about filling the top slots in Islamabad and Sindh.

PPP insiders believe it was due to the deliberate avoidance by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is shying away from becoming a part of the post-election ruling calculus in Islamabad, and thus, according a similar role to the PPP in Punjab.

They observe that the misgivings are becoming more pronounced while Pervez Musharraf lobby is hoping to capitalise on this situation. They apprehend that such a self-centred attitude of a major stakeholder may prove those elements right who have been advocating that politicians are not good at decision-making.

The PPP cadre interviewed by this scribe believes that the leadership should not keep on changing its stance on the prime minister’s slot for which Makhdoom Amin Fahim was originally named. They believe that the ball game changed when it became clear to Asif Ali Zardari that the PML (N) is not going to become part of the government in Islamabad and that it will also like to keep the PPP in Punjab at some distance. In such an eventuality, Sharif brothers might be more damaging for the PPP in Punjab. This was the fear that compelled Mr Zardari to think afresh about the top slot, the sources said, adding that the PML (N) was actually drawing lines for the next elections at the expense of the PPP, the Awami National Party, and the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) in collaboration with the former Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) colleagues.

There is also a strong lobby deliberately creating strife in the PPP and PML (N) ranks by dishing out reports signifying something like Punjab card. Besides, a tug of war within the PPP for the top slot was making it difficult for Mr Zardari to make a quick decision. But keeping in view his track record, it is expected that he may keep people guessing while he examines the feedback on different propositions. But, it is having a demoralising effect on the PPP’s rank and file and its renewed unity and vigour, especially in Sindh.

In view of the issues being faced by the PPP at the centre, and in Sindh and Punjab, Mr Zardari might summon a meeting of the central executive committee after a brief consultation with Aitzaz Ahsan and others on the formation of the government.

It’s believed that all the names for the top slots will be declared only after such meeting as many other important issues, including a tri-party alliance and some regional alliances under the national reconciliation initiative, are also needed to be sorted out.

It is feared that the PPP would suffer a serious setback if Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s nomination for the top slot in Islamabad is dropped again. The executive committee may also decide on the alternatives, whether to put someone from Punjab and then for how long. The meeting may also decide whether or not Mr Zardari will be a candidate for the slot if he seeks election from NA 207.

However, the PPP cadre is clear on one point: collaboration of three parties will remain stronger until President Musharraf is on the scene. Perhaps this factor has also caused a perceived change in the thinking of Asif Zardari to install a person from Punjab to strengthen the party. There is a feeling that the PPP could not capitalise in Punjab due to a 40-day-long mourning and could only get one out of 14 MNAs from Rawalpindi division where Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Mr Zardari feels that Punjab did not react in the manner it should have against the killings of Ms Bhutto, according to the sources.

Sources said that some government quarters had started pressurising Mr Zardari to make one of his close friends as the chief minister. Names of Nisar Khuhro, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Makhdoom Jameeluzzaman, Agha Siraj Durrani, Zulfiqar Mirza, Pir Mazharul Haq are also being circulated by certain lobbies.