News Analysis |
Federal Minister for Information Mr. Fawad Chaudhary has made some hard-hitting comments about the performance of the Sindh government. “The government is doing nothing substantial to deliver,” he said. Mr. Chaudhary warned that if the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is unable to bring change in Sindh and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah does not resign, then the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government “will have to take practical steps”. Federal Minister was on a visit to Karachi when he grilled the PPP government and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
Interestingly, just a day ago, Mr. Chuahry made it clear that the PTI was about to form a new alliance in Sindh. “We have refrained ourselves from forging forward blocs in the PPP and PML-N as a favor. However, a grand alliance will now be formed in Sindh comprising PTI, MQM-P, GDA and a forward bloc within PPP, which will turn the ruling party into a minority in Sindh Assembly. A new government will then be formed in the province.” Moreover, he said that “Sindh government can fall any moment…no one wants to be beneath a wall when it’s falling down”.
It is also on cards that PM Khan is likely to stay strict on the opposition at any cost and this will help him gain more popular legitimacy in order to continue his anti-corruption war.
PTI wants to upgrade the lives of people and PPP has an opportunity to work on improving governance model in the province, Mr. Chaudhary stated. The information minister dubbed the Sindh chief minister as the “jinn” of Omni Group’s money laundering “magic lamp”. “Murad Ali Shah is the jinn of Omni Group’s ‘magic lamp’ with which Zardari group, rulers in Sindh [launder] money abroad in the blink of an eye”. Chaudhry remarked that Sindh CM is willing to do everything for his party leadership
It is worth mentioning here that after the report of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, PTI is demanding the resignation of the CM Sindh. The JIT proposed the SC to place the names of 172 people on the Exit Control List (ECL) including CM Murad and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Later on, the SC objected on the government’s decision and directed the federal government to remove the names of Chairman PPP and CM Sindh. Government is yet to decide on the matter.
Read more: Bilawal is not innocent
Moreover, Federal Minister also commented about Mr. Bilawal and his political maturity. “Bilawal is a child and children are non-political. I believe he has nothing to do with the situation in Sindh,” he added.
It is important to note here that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, former President of Pakistan, recently said in the National Assembly that he was not interested to topple the federal government but it will fail soon. He made it clear to the lawmakers that the way the PTI was running the country it was bound to fail. Later on, he met the opposition leader in the national assembly and formed a united front to give tough time to the government.
Analysts argue that the opposition and government are actually putting pressure on each other to remind each other of their capacity. The government does not enjoy a simple majority in the parliament and PPP is not safe in Sindh since the PTI has an alliance with MQM-P and JDA. PTI wants the extension of the military courts for which it requires the help of the opposition and in the same way, the opposition is striving to get a deal to evade accountability.
Read more: Bilawal calls for minimizing judicial activism in Pakistan
Observers believe that coming few days are crucial in Pakistan politics where the government has to decide about some tough questions. It is also on cards that PM Khan is likely to stay strict on the opposition at any cost and this will help him gain more popular legitimacy in order to continue his anti-corruption war.