Daily Times

DADU: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah has observed that uncertainty reigned supreme in the country’s politics until the army chief recently assured the upper house of parliament that his institution fully supported continuation of the democratic process.

However, he noted, some quarters were still issuing such statements which were helping the state of uncertainty linger on.

Mr Shah was speaking to local reporters, party activists and other people in Bahawalpur village, some 12 kilometres from here, after condoling the death of SSP Farooq Jamali with his younger brother, MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali. SSP Jamali died while performing Umrah four days ago.

Commenting on the various issues confronting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said that all these issues could have been sorted out and resolved within the elected houses but [ousted prime minister] Sharif never heeded wise advice. Shah, however, expressed his confidence that the democratic dispensation would complete its tenure.

A hype had been created by leaders and activists of the ruling and opposition parties causing absolute uncertainty over the government’s future. So much so that the Senate sought answers to the questions, which had constantly been raised by such elements. Even the National Assembly speaker had once jumped onto the bandwagon, he recalled, adding to the already confusion-infested political atmosphere.

Lauding the role of elected houses, Shah pointed out that the issue of delimitation was settled when PPP played its due role in the larger interest of the country and democracy.

On the other hand, he noted, the PML-N and PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) were still continuing with their demonstrations, public meetings and other such events to propagate their respective stances on various issues though there was no use of such politics.

“None of the two parties and their likes are going to benefit from such things,” said Shah.

In reply to a question, he said that an impression was created that relief was provided to the PML-N in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case and to the PTI in the case of its chairman’s disqualification. Such an impression to prove that the judiciary tried to balance its treatment only added to the prevailing uncertainty, he added. “The judiciary gives verdicts only on merit,” he said.

The senior politician was also asked about possibility of his party’s electoral alliance with any other party in the next general elections. Shah said there could not be a final word in politics. “There is always a room for a dialogue with any party, be it the PML-N, PTI or some other party, in the greater interest of the country, nation and democracy,” he said.

About the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the opposition leader observed that it was currently faced with a worst-ever organisational crisis. He said the party stood divided in several factions.

Shah was of the view that the PTI did not have deep roots in Sindh as it could never gather more that 7,000-8,000 supporters at any of its public meetings in Sindh. It was not even as popular in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as it had been in 2013, he added.

Published in Daily Times, December 24^th 2017.