News Analysis |
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has finally decided to not vote in the Prime Minister election. Polling will take place in the National Assembly on Friday (today). Shehbaz Sharif was the expected candidate for the slot of Prime Minister by the joint opposition. But sources revealed on Thursday that a consultative meeting took place at the chairman secretariat, where PPP decided to remain ‘indifferent’ during the election. The meeting was chaired by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
PPP Decides not to Vote in PM Election
It is important to mention here that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, PPP has decided to abstain from voting in the Prime Minister election. According to sources, PPP members will attend the NA session on Friday, however, they will refrain from partaking in the election process. “The PPP will not vote for either PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif or PTI’s Imran for the position of Prime Minister,” it was added.
While speaking to reporters prior to the PPP meeting, Khrusheed Shah said that his party had reservations over Shehbaz Sharif being the candidate for Prime Minister. Shah stressed that if PML-N does not change its PM candidate, then PPP will decide accordingly. “We have told PML-N of our reservations, we are working on [resolving it]. [But] if they don’t change their candidate then we will [make our own] decision,” he said.
Read more: PML-N may face another wave of disintegration in Punjab
PML-N Reacts, Slams Zardari
On the other hand, senior leader of PML-N, Khawaja Saad Rafique, claimed that PPP backtracked upon former President Asif Ali Zardari’s orders. He said that earlier PPP had agreed upon the PML-N candidate’s name. “We don’t blame Zardari Sahib for anything and are aware of his troubles”, said the former federal minister.
Another leader of the party, Mr. Rana Sanaullah, has also said in a program on a private TV channel that PPP was not doing something politically and morally correct. “Shehbaz Sharif was an agreed-upon candidate of the joint opposition. We don’t know what happened to Zardari Sahib. We can’t change the candidate, since Shehbaz Sharif is also the President of the party,” he clarified.
Revolutionary Shehbaz Bashed at Zardari
President of the PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif, once alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari was a callous man, as he had ordered foreign doctors treating dengue patients in Punjab to suspend their operations. Referring to a press conference held on May 09, 2013, he claimed that the former President had asked the doctors to stay in Karachi instead of treating patients in Lahore. Shehbaz Sharif further said that he was even ready to take oath and appear before the Supreme Court over his claim.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has finally decided to not vote in the Prime Minister election. Polling will take place in the National Assembly on Friday (today). Shehbaz Sharif was the expected candidate for the slot of Prime Minister by the joint opposition.
He added that “they will drag [former] President Asif Ali Zardari in the streets of Larkana, Karachi and Lahore if it [PML-Q] comes into power.” Mr. Shehbaz has termed Mr. Zardari: a plunder, corrupt and a person of questionable character, many times during his public speeches.
Read more: Grand opposition alliance to stage second APC today
According to sources, due to derogatory language used by the president of PML-N against the former President, the latter is not willing to vote for the former. This rift in the joint opposition was clear at the initial stages when Maualna Fazul Rehman presided over a multi-party conference to present their reservations over the alleged rigging during the general elections. Now, the differences between the mainstream parties will help Imran Khan, who is already backed by the simple majority to become the Prime Minister easily today.