Who is targeting whom

Published December 15, 2007

LAHORE, Dec 14: The Chaudhrys of Gujrat are the common target of the Pakistan People’s Party and the PML-N leaders’ election-related speeches, while the PML-Q leadership is also attacking both of its rivals.

In their election campaign, the PPP leaders are not saying anything against President Musharraf, while the PML-N, though critical of the general who overthrew the Nawaz Sharif government in October 1999, is not seeking his ouster any more.

The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, the Jamaat-i-Islami and the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, though out of the electoral process, are criticizing the PPP, the PML-N and the PML-Q leaders and are also assailing President Musharraf for the harm he allegedly caused to the country because of his wrong policies.

The PPP leadership did target Gen Musharraf in the beginning, but now it has changed the focus.

A time came when Ms Bhutto declared that her party would not accept Gen Musharraf even without uniform, and demanded the pre-Nov 3 judiciary should decide the issue of the general’s eligibility for the second term as president.

However, the PPP chairperson changed her stance on both the issues.

Ms Bhutto now targets the PML-Q leadership and claims that they would be defeated comprehensively.

The PML-N leadership brands the PML-Q as supporters of dictatorship who would be taken to task in elections.

Though Mr Sharif has announced that he will not like to work as prime minister with President Musharraf, he is not talking of his ouster, an objective he has been working for years. This has been noticed even by Mr Sharif’s colleagues.

The PML-Q leaders are criticizing the PPP as a party responsible for the dismemberment of the country. They also criticize the PML-N leadership for ‘mortgaging’ the party to the PPP.

Until recently, the PML-Q leaders have also been attacking Ms Bhutto for her remarks about Dr AQ Khan and situation in tribal areas.—Political Correspondent

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