M RAFIQUE GORAYA

lAHORE; As none of the main political parties is predicted to touch the magic figure of 172 in today’s general elections to form single handedly federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has already declared not to be a part of a coalition government with PPP and PML-N, all other parties are striving hard to garner enough parliamentary strength to have its share of power in the center and in provinces.

Political observers say that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had worked hard to propel its National Assembly seat count to at least 40 plus in the election to play the king maker’s role in the post-election engineering process. It has been reported that Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif have already reached an understanding to cooperate with each other in forming future federal and provincial governments to ward off their common adversary Imran Khan from power structure.

They say that as Bilawal carried out the party’s vigorous election campaign across the country, the party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, remained in the backseat to formulate post election strategy to grab maximum power in likely coalition set ups and remain a force in the political arena of the country.

It is all the more necessary for him since he and his sister are racing money laundering inquiries.

They say PTI has almost isolated itself from other mainstream political parties, the chances of PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) joining hands to form a coalition government are increasing. “The PML-N will still win 65 or above seats in the NA and this could make post-election alliance which is possible in the current circumstances, other parties such as Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Sherpao Group and Mahmood Khan Achakzai will join the coalition governments. They have not been critical of each other as fiercely as against PTI, the observers noted.

Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said it would be unfortunate if a “hung parliament” comes into being as a result of the elections. Pakistan needs a powerful government and a hung parliament is always weak. In a situation like this when Pakistan is facing economic crisis and difficulties, a strong government is needed which could make big decisions.”

Imran said he would rather prefer to sit on the opposition benches than form an alliance with PPP and PML-N because their leaders are corrupt. The PTI would try to form the government without them.

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday claimed that PTI would clinch two-thirds majority in the general election and Imran Khan would decide about making alliance with any political party.

He said the people of Sindh were looking towards PTI and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) but not focusing on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).“Both PTI and GDA would work for the welfare and progress of the province,” he added. “PPP was completely wiped out from Punjab areas and it had not nominated its candidates on 104 constituencies of the Punjab, he claimed.

It may be added that two new political parties Balochistan Awami Party formed by prominent electables and Janoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaz formed by 42 members of parliament of south Punjab would be playing a significant role in formation of future governments,

On April 10 2018, 10 of the ruling PML-N’s prominent elected candidates from South Punjab, parted ways from the party and announced a movement for the creation of South Punjab province. The movement was titled Janoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaz (lit. Front for South Punjab Province). In the coming weeks, the movement garnered widespread support and dissident MPs from the ruling coalition, as well as independents, started joining it. At its peak, the movement had the backing of 42 MPs. On May 8, 2018, the movement announced its merger with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the opposition party in the province, after PTI assured JPSM’s leaders that creating the South Punjab province is a priority item in their manifesto for the 2018 elections.

This new movement is a great set back to the PML-N that has been ruling the most populous province of the country for past ten years.