A curtailed honeymoon for Lions begins
Saeed Minhas
Galleries were packed on Saturday; literally with cubs of the party in a
similar fashion jiyalas had crowded the rows in 2008. It was as chaotic
as it was when Yusuf Gilani and company were seen for the first time
with raised chins and jaw-breaking broad smiles at that time. Of course
there was a difference; slogans raised in the galleries by charged crowd
this time were about ‘Lion’ as compared to Bhutto’s five years ago.
Since Bhuttos’ have evaporated into thin air thanks to
presidency-centric politics of the party, Sharifs are once again in the
business with an unusual sobriety and calmness. Another difference which
remained quite noticeable was a smiling presence of Maryam instead of
her husband Safdar—daughter and son in law of Mian Sahib, respectively.
Talks of honeymoon period were very much in the air all around us as we saw Mian Nawaz Sharif and his kitchen cabinet moving in and out of assembly hall. Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif and even Saaqd Rafiq--the few of the potential faces in the expected cabinet of Nawaz Sharif--were seen talking about 90 days and even first year agenda of the government soon after forming the cabinet. Mian Sahb himself was looking quite serene because since elections he has been asking the voters to be more patient while asking for solutions to the lingering crisis like energy, economy and more so the worsening law and order situation.
Messages uttered in the heat of recent election campaign have already been considered null and void by the Leaguers. Quick shit chat with some of them was enough to understand that they seem to be as lost in finding a road map to recovery as they were in 1997 when they assumed the reigns of a near bankrupt government with a two third majority. What and how that two third majority was packed up is an open secret now.
Simple majority they have now, which will bring them not only vote of confidence but also help them sail through their honeymoon period without much ado unless they launch themselves into a bulldozing mood, which unfortunately remains associated with them since their last outing in the power corridors. The reason is simple that they do not have majority in Senate, so they won’t be able to get any ordinary legislation through unless they develop a working relationship with those holding Sindh card.
Economy is yet another front where past policies of Ishaq Dar and company are still haunting the businessmen, investors and even stock exchange wheelers-dealers. With empty coffers, negligible tax base and crippling energy crisis, only option left for honeymooners seems to be external friends like America or Saudi kingdom unless they decide to go on Chinese and Iranian ferries. Any adventure on this front without Khakis is replete with all sorts of cut-off dangers.
On the internal front of the party, Mian Nawaz Sharif is facing a daunting task of picking up a slim but more importantly an efficient cabinet which can help him prove his credentials to all the internal and external guarantors, revealed the party sources. Chaudhry Nisar--the champion of Rawalpindi Garrisons-- is looking for his favourite petroleum ministry whereas Khawaja Asif happens to be considered for the same by leadership. Similarly, Ahsan Iqbal is looking to venture into foreign affairs whereas some senators are also vying for the same position. Competition on information ministry is even tense as Saad Rafiq, Pervaiz Rasheed and Mushahid Ullah are all expecting a call for this position, whereas Mian sahb is trying to think of a female information minister to give his party some sort of new/liberal look.
With all these daunting tasks on hand and balancing to do, many pundits believe that honeymoon for the Lions might not be longer than 30 days, therefore they have tighten their pants and start thinking hard for delivering on promises or waiting for the ultimate chaos.
Talks of honeymoon period were very much in the air all around us as we saw Mian Nawaz Sharif and his kitchen cabinet moving in and out of assembly hall. Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif and even Saaqd Rafiq--the few of the potential faces in the expected cabinet of Nawaz Sharif--were seen talking about 90 days and even first year agenda of the government soon after forming the cabinet. Mian Sahb himself was looking quite serene because since elections he has been asking the voters to be more patient while asking for solutions to the lingering crisis like energy, economy and more so the worsening law and order situation.
Messages uttered in the heat of recent election campaign have already been considered null and void by the Leaguers. Quick shit chat with some of them was enough to understand that they seem to be as lost in finding a road map to recovery as they were in 1997 when they assumed the reigns of a near bankrupt government with a two third majority. What and how that two third majority was packed up is an open secret now.
Simple majority they have now, which will bring them not only vote of confidence but also help them sail through their honeymoon period without much ado unless they launch themselves into a bulldozing mood, which unfortunately remains associated with them since their last outing in the power corridors. The reason is simple that they do not have majority in Senate, so they won’t be able to get any ordinary legislation through unless they develop a working relationship with those holding Sindh card.
Economy is yet another front where past policies of Ishaq Dar and company are still haunting the businessmen, investors and even stock exchange wheelers-dealers. With empty coffers, negligible tax base and crippling energy crisis, only option left for honeymooners seems to be external friends like America or Saudi kingdom unless they decide to go on Chinese and Iranian ferries. Any adventure on this front without Khakis is replete with all sorts of cut-off dangers.
On the internal front of the party, Mian Nawaz Sharif is facing a daunting task of picking up a slim but more importantly an efficient cabinet which can help him prove his credentials to all the internal and external guarantors, revealed the party sources. Chaudhry Nisar--the champion of Rawalpindi Garrisons-- is looking for his favourite petroleum ministry whereas Khawaja Asif happens to be considered for the same by leadership. Similarly, Ahsan Iqbal is looking to venture into foreign affairs whereas some senators are also vying for the same position. Competition on information ministry is even tense as Saad Rafiq, Pervaiz Rasheed and Mushahid Ullah are all expecting a call for this position, whereas Mian sahb is trying to think of a female information minister to give his party some sort of new/liberal look.
With all these daunting tasks on hand and balancing to do, many pundits believe that honeymoon for the Lions might not be longer than 30 days, therefore they have tighten their pants and start thinking hard for delivering on promises or waiting for the ultimate chaos.
Let them have some time and then ask them whatever you want to ask
ReplyDeletehonymoon is a honymoon short or long does not matter, dont you know u stu...
ReplyDeleteIf its a continuation of Raisani style of governance than we should al brace for mercy from almighty. issues raised in this article are of serious nature and of course Mian Nawaz Sharif cannot afford to ignore them. He has to show not only the intent to resolve these issues but should share his vision. If he plans to just play with the words and emotions of people, he is sadly mistaken and so are his core team members.
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