Deepening rifts in opposition leave PML-N alone against PTI challenge

One after another, opposition parties seem to be abandoning the PML-N side as it struggles to counter the emergent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in the National Assembly as well as in the Punjab Assembly.

In a serious blow to the joint opposition, both the PPP and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) have distanced themselves from the PML-N's nominee for the post of prime minister.

The nomination of Shahbaz Sharif — the "joint candidate" of the 11-party alliance against PTI chief Imran Khan for the slot of prime minister — has riled the PPP for his derogatory remarks against their party's co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari.

The PPP has subsequently also distanced itself from the PML-N in Punjab, where the Zardari-led party has decided not to cast its votes in the elections for speaker and deputy speaker in the provincial assembly.

PPP MPA Hassan Murtaza, while talking to DawnNewsTV, has said his party's members will not cast their votes due to the PML-N's "behaviour".

"We have seven votes but we will not support the PML-N or the PTI," he said.

PML-N still eyeing PPP support in the next phase

PML-N leader Saad Rafique regretted that though PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had "backed out" from the election for speaker and deputy speaker in the Punjab Assembly "due to his compulsions", the PML-N will "not complain".

He continued to hope that the PPP will support the PML-N in "the next phase".

He also warned the PTI against attempting to make a forward block in the PML-N.

"We had formed forward blocks in our tenure but they were our own people," he added.

MMA says not bound to vote for Shahbaz in NA

Meanwhile, the MMA has also made it clear that after recent developments, the MMA is not bound to vote for Shahbaz Sharif for the prime minister's post.

MMA leader Liaquat Baloch criticised the alliance, saying both the PPP and the PML-N had backtracked from decisions taken in the 'all parties conference'.

He also said that opposition parties in parliament need to set their priorities clearly and without any ambiguity in the days ahead.

PTI says PML-N leaders offering forward block in Punjab

Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed of the PTI has expressed his firm belief that the candidates nominated by party will win the elections for speaker and deputy speaker in the Punjab Assembly.

The PTI leader added that his party was not making any deliberate attempt to carve out a forward block within the PML-N; however, he did claim that several PML-N lawmakers had offered their cooperation to the PTI leadership.

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Ali Sabir

Aug 16, 2018 01:06pm

Pakistan's politicians get along no better than Arab politicians.

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Ali Sabir

Aug 16, 2018 01:11pm

The types of nominations in Pakistan are no more than personality contests. Who is bigger? I am. You are not. "I have done more for Pakistan." The public is not even considered in their thinking. It was completely obvious what would happen between the PPP and PML-N.

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Shahid

Aug 16, 2018 01:21pm

Why the aggrieved party of today complain of such practice now.They had the chance to abandon the making of forward block but they did not.Why they expect a magnanimous attidude from their rival today.This should be addressed when all the parties sit together and enter in to a MOA apologising to the nation of their past behaviour and commit not to repeat.

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Wahid

Aug 16, 2018 01:25pm

Any party or politician who puts their interests before that of the national interests must not be allowed to represent his constituents when the next election arrives and the mass media must accurately inform the electorate about their actions and their antics in the National Assembly. This Clubhouse of corruption must be dismantled for ever. An opposition’s task is to ensure scrutiny of Government actions and provide constructive advice and suggestions rather than act as an hurdle in its performance and program of actions. They must learn how to be an effective Opposition in a true democracy.

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BAXAR

Aug 16, 2018 01:31pm

Clearly, there is some kind of understanding between PPP and PTI. This understanding can translate into a 2/3 majority required for constitutional amendments. Now, what kind of amendments PPP and PTI can come close for?

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Leoman

Aug 16, 2018 01:35pm

Actually such alliances are always bound to failure because they are never made for the sake of the country and the people. They are mostly based on either opposition of a party or just to create chaos in the country. Selfishness can never be uprooted from among our political leaders.

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Asif A. Shah

Aug 16, 2018 02:31pm

Such shifting loyalties and changing political positions in a very short time speaks volumes about the political culture in Pakistan. We have a long way to go in order to develop a principled and stabled democracy.

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Azhar

Aug 16, 2018 02:47pm

Kh. Sad Rafique's justification for forming forward block against PPP: "We had formed forward blocks in our tenure but they were our own people," he added.'' Quite convincing.

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diaspora

Aug 16, 2018 03:48pm

it was foolish of PMLN to believe that ppp will support them as the latter know which side of their bread is buttered.if they cannot get something their traditional rivals must not get it either.

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M. Saeed

Aug 16, 2018 04:01pm

Opposition parties are abandoning the PML-N because of their detestable norm of running their exclusive dynastic politics. The moment Ch. Nisar left stating that he could not even imagine working under Mariyam as his boss, it was clear that all other very senior PML(N) politicians were having similar feelings but were waiting for their right time to act likewise. But, intoxication of power is such a horrible vice that it keeps such people hallucinating all good even when the ship is sinking in a high sea.

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Azam Qadeer

Aug 16, 2018 04:18pm

Shahbaz must had other candidates for all the key positions then other could have joined them

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leena

Aug 16, 2018 05:12pm

Very sad demise of PML-N.

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Aug 16, 2018 05:49pm

@diaspora why should the ppp trust pmln. need i remind you that the pmln has historically backtracked from supporting the ppp at crucial times despite once promising support. the fact is that these two are different parties and need not compromise their ideologies just for the sake of undermining an opponent

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Jawad Arshad

Aug 16, 2018 10:37pm

PMLN is almost history now. Poor management of Panama case and Civil Military Relations were its undoing.

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Lahori kid

Aug 16, 2018 10:39pm

You scratch my back this time, I'll scratch yours, this is how PPP and PML-N have always worked out their differences. This is all nothing but drama between the two losing parties.

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Fareed N

Aug 17, 2018 12:43am

Was n't Shahbaz Sharif who declared that he will drag Zardari through the streets of Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Larkana to get back laundered money. How can one expect from Zardari to support Shahbaz Sharif ?

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Usman from Toronto

Aug 17, 2018 02:59am

PMLN has displayed just how desperate and emotional they are. They supported the PPP candidate for speaker though the PPP informed them that they would not support the PMLN candidate for PM. The PMLN has also fallen into PTI's trap by confirming that PMLN wants an alliance with the PPP, thus further strengthening the growing sentiment in Punjab that the PMLN wants an alliance with the PPP, In this whole charade the PPP wins by claiming they are not in an alliance with the PMLN but still managed to get their votes for the Speaker, the PTI wins by demonstrating yet again the PMLN wants an accommodation with the PPP.... The big loser, once again is the PMLN. Or this could all be one big plot to try and trick the PTI into a false sense of security.

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Bullar Shah

Aug 18, 2018 07:21am

PPP and PML are hardened politicians they can take on PTI but not the very powerful kingmakers they knew they would have been obliterated so prudently decided to live to fight another day.

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A. Mangal

Aug 19, 2018 06:14pm

Since public elects the politicians to serve not to fight, then why opposition talks of quarrel, and not working together as bipartisan supporter of promoting best interests of the public over foolish shouting game of no gain!

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