Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying wrong remedies. Gilgit Baltistan (GB) elections are going to be a curtain raiser for future politics in Pakistan. GB eections will pave way for future governments just like PTI’s Lahore show did. The political pundits of Pakistan and AJK are looking forward to the results and seat adjustments in GB.
Is PDM really united?
Along with future shaping and reshaping of national politics, it will bring to the surface, PDM’s reality. The three streamline political parties are polls apart ideologically. They may sit on the PDM stage and meetings for political chanting, but they can no longer run their cart unanimously. The opposition is playing a double game on and under the surface.
If PTI looks deep into the crux of the matter, it will realize that PDM is not dangerous because people are not interested in any coalition, they just want to make ends meet
Under the surface, they have given a green signal for merging GB as the fifth province of the country and on the surface, they are strongly opposing the existing government. Certainly, the opposition’s willingness to favor PTI on GB move is not just based on national interests, they have also dipped their fingers in the pot.
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The Indian act of abrogating 370 and 35A has compelled the national security establishment to make GB as a constitutional part of Pakistan. The GB elections day and season selection is also very important when there remains little mobility. All parties’ conference held in Islamabad chaired by PM AJK, passed the resolution showing their reservation regarding GB as an integral part of the state of Kashmir. The Chinese and Iranian factors in GB elections cannot be excluded. The Shias are convinced through Iranian influence and the Sunnis through Chinese. Some of the opposition leaders are tagging it as pre-poll rigging just to camouflage their political hollowness in the masses. If they consider it a pre-poll rigging, then why have they started political campaigns over there in GB after nominating candidates?
What it means for future politics
The political pundits argue that GB elections are going to usher a new roadmap for future politics, and it will also predict the future ruling party. Certainly, PDM is not going to start a joint political move against PTI in GB, as they are physically side by side but ideologically, politically and mentally they are not united on the PDM platform. The silent reluctance of certain political leaders from PML N after their leader’s grudge against national institutions is not hidden from the public anymore.
The opposition is utterly aware of the fact that it will not only be tagged pro-Indian but will also lose their politics in GB
PTI is more scuffled by the price hike than PDM. If PTI looks deep into the crux of the matter, it will realize that PDM is not dangerous because people are not interested in any coalition, they just want to make ends meet. PTI must refocus its point to public welfare rather than running behind the shadow of Nawaz Sharif. Masses are concerned about wheat, sugar, petrol, gas, electricity, unemployment, safety and security, law and justice, health and shelter rather than bringing someone back from London.
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There is a tremendous political shift in the lower sections of AJK politics. GB election results will clear away the political fog from the scene. Certain political sections are awaiting GB results in December. The Molana of politics has given a new twist to Neelum politics through his six days visit to his hidden right-hand Peer Mazhar Saeed Shah, the ex-candidate for AJK assembly.
There will also be a new twist in PDM after GB results. Ultimately, the opposition is not going protest making GB the fifth province of Pakistan. Mr. Khan also seems quite serious. Mr. Bilawal has also chanted about giving GB citizens equal rights, which shows PPP’s willingness. The opposition is utterly aware of the fact that it will not only be tagged pro-Indian but will also lose their politics in GB. PMLN has played the wrong card at the wrong time by targeting the establishment, if it continues, the political situation for PMLN will be worsen. No one party is going to win in the GB elections, there will either be a coalition set up or a strong opposition. PPP and PMLN are mostly playing with the ex-cards, while PTI is the third competitor with a chair in Islamabad. If we talk realistically, PTI is not very popular anymore, in view of their recent performance.
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The author is an English professor and a freelance columnist. The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.