News Analysis |
The opposition parties are all set to hold third All Parties Conference (APC), after the July 25 elections.
On the contrary, if PPP makes a bargain with the next government, this coalition may wither away, which remains highly unlikely given Imran strict stance against corruption.
In today’s APC; PML-N, PPP, MMA, ANP and BNP are expected to take part. MQM-P has already made the announcement that it will support the PTI led government in the center.
In the second APC, political parties had unanimously decided to take up the matter of Election Day rigging into the next parliament.
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MMA chief, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman made efforts to reject the July 25 elections. But he was unsuccessful in convincing the parties to boycott the oath-taking ceremony.  MMA’s main ally JI decided to fight its case in the parliament.
In last decade, opposition parties played a relatively weak role and failed to put the government on the back foot in the parliamentary forums.
After losing to PTI, which emerged as an anti-status quo party, all the defeated parties have made an alliance to make life difficult for Khan’s government.
PTI has succeeded in wooing more elected representatives to back it and managed to achieve the ‘magic number’ of 138 out of 272 to form the government in the Centre and is in pole position to elect Imran as the PM of the country.
If the anti-corruption institutions continue to work steadfastly against the culprits across the board, the status quo parties may succeed to formulate joint strategy.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Shahbaz Sharif are expected to attend today’s conference.  The opposition parties are trying to reach a consensus to formulate a strategy for the future. MMA’s Fazal is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the opposition emerges as a force to be reckoned with.
PTI’s team has met BNP leader Akhter Mengal today and there is a possibility of a one-to-one meeting with Imran Khan. Mengal has made it clear that he would make a coalition with the party which addresses the long-ignored concerns of the Baloch people.
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Bilawal is making a move to become the leader of the opposition. There is speculation that despite winning more seats than PPP, PML-N may end up losing the role to young Bhutto.
After the election result, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has continued its policy of swift actions against the political bigwigs.
Much to the dismay of PPP, NAB is moving fast against the PPP leaders including Yousaf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervez Ashraf. Similarly, FIA is pursuing the case against Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur and many other PPP leaders are under scanner.
If PPP decides to go ahead with this coalition despite Khan’s pledge of no political victimization, his intentions to empower institutions may create more hurdles for the party.
PPP may use the parliamentary floor to go against PTI’s reform agenda. If the anti-corruption institutions continue to work steadfastly against the culprits across the board, the status quo parties may succeed to formulate joint strategy. On the contrary, if PPP makes a bargain with the next government, this coalition may wither away, which remains highly unlikely given Imran strict stance against corruption.
The chances are that Imran regime will act ruthlessly against the corrupt elements and without taking into consideration personal vendetta, institutions will go for across the board accountability.