News Analysis |
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and ruling Pakistan Tehree-i-Insaf (PTI) are once again at loggerheads. This time both parties are said to be struggling to maintain their influence in Sindh which has traditionally been a political threshold of PPP. On Monday, Federal Minister for Information Mr. Fawad Chaudhary has categorically rejected all the conspiracies theories that PTI was trying to have a power shift in Sindh.
Mr. Chaudhary clarified that his party wants the resignation of Chief Minister Sindh Mr. Murad Ali Shah whose name is on Exist Control List (ECL) after the recommendation of high-level Joint Investigation Team (JIT). It is worth mentioning here that the names of 172 suspects including Mr. Shah are on the ECL. “All we demand is the resignation of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah,” Chaudhry said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. “We never said that governor rule should be imposed in Sindh,” he added.
PM Khan’s unshakable stance over his anti-corruption policies has triggered the opposition which is reportedly planning to get united and give a tough time to the government.
He reminded the PPP government of the resignations tendered by PTI’s ministers. “We have decided [not to endorse] the impression that we are changing the government in Sindh. All we say is that Murad Ali Shah should be relieved of his post. Two of our ministers had also tendered resignations when charges against them had materialized,” Federal Minister asserted.
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Prior to this clarification, it was widely speculated that the Federal Minister who was supposed to visit Karachi would play his role in creating a forward block within the PPP to topple its government. Some analysts were of the view that Prime Minister Imran Khan had instructed Mr. Chaudhary to go to Sindh and seek help from the members of Sindh Assembly to replace the sitting government of PPP. However, on Sunday, all such reports and comments have been rubbished by the Information Minister.
Bilawal Unhappy over ‘Political Tensions’ in Sindh
PPP Chairman Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has criticized the ruling party for its alleged role in toppling Sindh government. Young Bilawal reminded the PTI that it needed 49 lawmakers to form its government in the province. “I have 99 seats in Sindh and they (the PTI) will have to arrange 49 turncoats to form a government, because after the 18th Amendment you need more than 50 per cent majority for vote on the chief minister’s [slot],” Bilwal explained.
Mr. Fawad Chaudhary has categorically rejected all the conspiracies theories that PTI was trying to have a power shift in Sindh.
To counter PTI’s alleged efforts to have a power shift in Sindh, Bilawal threatened the federal government saying “if Zardari allows us, we can dislodge their [the PTI’s] government within a week. They have a majority of only six seats in the centre and an even smaller majority in Punjab […] we can dislodge them and send them behind bars.”
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As a matter of fact, PTI could not get a simple majority in Punjab and at center in the general elections 2018. PTI had to seek help of Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and other parties to form a government in Punjab and Center. PM Khan’s unshakable stance over his anti-corruption policies has triggered the opposition which is reportedly planning to get united and give a tough time to the government.
Furthermore, analysts were suggesting the PTI’s government not to topple the PPP’s government in Sindh and focus on ongoing anti-corruption policies so that Pakistan becomes a strong economy where nobody dares to launder money. Latest clarification by Fawad Ch. has made it clear that the government is not interested in toppling PPP’s government rather it is focusing on bringing the corrupts before the nation.