Differences within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)’s major components over strategy have once again emerged, as the PPP likes a no-confidence motion brought in the National Assembly against the PTI government, while the PML(N) would prefer going for a long march to Islamabad first. It seems that the idea of resigning from the assemblies has fallen by the wayside. The Senate elections in March have long ago been abandoned as any sort of goal, and now the parties are devoted only to obtaining what Senate seats they can from the process.
One of the main factors seems to be that of the PPP’s Sindh government, which symbolises more than just as provincial government for the PPP. It means that the PPP will obtain the majority of the Senate seats that will go up for grabs in the coming elections, but it also represents the last vestige of power that the PPP has left. Dissolving the Sindh Assembly is easily said, but as it does not inevitably pull down the other Houses along with it, it might leave the PPP facing a provincial election with a hostile party still in charge of the federal government. If a non-PPP government is formed, it would be in power at the time of the next election for the National Assembly, with about half its tenure remaining. Already, the difficulties between the federal and Sindh government are getting more complicated. The Karachi Transformation Plan has added money to the mix, and the animosity between the two was illustrated by a recent meeting of the committee meant to decide the plan’s issues, where Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi walked out because he felt aggrieved by his treatment by the Committee’s Chairman, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Mr Zaidi takes a particular interest in Karachi as a member from it, while Mr Shah has a particular interest also, as it is his capital and part of his province. However, neither belongs to a party which dominates the metropolis, which is still something the MQM can claim. It is another matter that the MQM is divided into factions, with the Pak Sarzameen Party having hived off from it.
Then there is the issue of the no-confidence motions. That would be decided only by numbers. Has the opposition got enough support from the Treasury benches to make a move? The PDM does not seem to be dissolving, but there are questions about its effectiveness.
