Senate poll and political delusion: edit in The Frontier Post / March 4, 2021
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf faced a huge blow as it lost Senate elections to the Pakistan Democratic Movement in the National Assembly on Wednesday. PDM’s candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated PTI’s candidate and Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh. Wednesday Senate Election was scheduled for 52 vacant posts of Senators, while 11 senators from Punjab have already elected unopposed, whereas, 37 seats were contested on March 03, 2021. The polling was held for 35 seats of three provincial Assemblies and 2 seats of federal capital area. The Senate Election of National Assembly got much importance from both Government and its rival Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The battle of two Senate Seats of capital territory became the prime focus of both PTI government and PDM alliance. PTI government exerted its full power to get its candidate Dr. Hafeez Shaikh be elected, similarly PDM also gave full threshold to capture the victory stand for Yousaf Raza Gilani as Senator. After conclusion of this political battle, PTI and allies were able to fetch total of 43 seats whereas PDM alliance was able to grab 51. Currently, PPP is heading to get support of PDM parties for Yousaf Raza Gilani for the position of Chairman Senate.
While grabbing the success in Senate election, PDM demanded that Prime Minister must step down by resigning from the office, as the government has lost the confidence of the parliament.
In fact, the victory of PDM could be possible due to defection of PTI parliamentarians from the party. Dozens of PTI Parliamentarians were unhappy from Party’s policies and dealing of the top leadership with them over the past two and half years. PTI was fearing of this situation, that several of its parliamentarians would likely part their ways during senate poll. Therefore, to evade this surprise, PTI aggressively campaigned for open ballot poll for senate election, intimidated its parliamentarians not to leave the party’s ranks and sorted several other illegal and condemnable tactics against its opponents during these senate polls. The end product of PTI’s efforts appeared in the shape of clear minority in the Upper House of the parliament. The opposition vowed to go for no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan in coming days.
After long meeting with his confederates, Prime Minster decided to take vote of confidence from the Parliament, an extra- bold decision, which could result in his clear defeat and ended up in the shape of collapse of PTI government. The defeat in Senate Election has put very drastic impacts on the loyalties of PTI ‘s parliamentarian, who had been side lined by the party. During these waning days, Imran Khan opted for vote of confidence, while announcing Khan’s decision, PTI Senior Vice President and Foreign Minster Qureshi said the vote of confidence would clear “who stands where” and those with PM Khan would be on one side, while the others would have the right to join other parties.
The latest development in the country’s politics had fueled a new debate among the political analysts and think tanks that whether another test of the already tested partners is a wise step or a political suicide by the incumbent government. One can term it the state of over confidence or Political delusion. Ostensibly, one thinks that if Imran Khan could not deliver his promises in two and half years, how would he do something for them after getting out of current catastrophe. So, PTI’s numbers are likely to shrink in next counting during vote of confidence.https://thefrontierpost.com/senate-poll-and-political-delusion/
The vote of confidence : edit in Daily Times,Mar 5, 2021
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Giliani’s victory in the Senate election has thrown a giant monkey wrench in the ruling party’s plans for the second half of the current electoral cycle and put Prime Minister Imran Khan in a very tight spot indeed. Still, his decision to seek a fresh vote of confidence from the national assembly is not only the correct way to proceed in a democratic setup but also reflects his conviction about being able to take the bull by the horns rather than make excuses that will not get anybody anywhere. Clearly in this position he needs to prove that he still has the confidence of the House to blunt some of the opposition’s sharpest criticism.
Despite the upset though the PTI leadership wouldn’t be too worried about unity in the ranks. The party’s female candidate was able to win from the capital with a comfortable majority, after all, so even though PTI’s claims about corruption are most likely very justified there is also the likelihood of some legislators expressing unhappiness with the prevailing economic situation by voting against their own finance minister. Yet the vote of confidence is a double edged sword and it is just as likely to cement the prime minister’s position somewhat once again as it is to send him packing.
Either way, the Senate result has given a fresh lease of life to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and all sorts of speculation about the opposition alliance losing momentum, which had been building for a good couple of months now, is going to subside very quickly. It also means that there is no longer any hope of some sort of reconciliation or political settlement between the opposing camps. Instead, the cleavage will widen and the opposition is going to use Yousaf Gilani’s win at every corner as it tries to pressure the prime minister into resigning. Therefore it doesn’t seem as if PTI has any easy options at this point. It must immediately begin to focus on showing results, especially when it comes to the economy and prices of items of everyday use. And that won’t happen till the prime minister begins to show the door to those members of his team that are big on making noise but very small when it comes to showing progress on the ground. Only the fittest should be allowed to survive in the federal cabinet and the process of elimination of those that are not up to the task has to begin at once. Going forward delivery will be key to PTI’s, and Imran Khan’s, survival.https://dailytimes.com.pk/730641/the-vote-of-confidence/
Aftermath of Senate elections: Two edits,Mar 5, 2021
Senate poll and political delusion: edit in The Frontier Post / March 4, 2021
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf faced a huge blow as it lost Senate elections to the Pakistan Democratic Movement in the National Assembly on Wednesday. PDM’s candidate Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated PTI’s candidate and Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh. Wednesday Senate Election was scheduled for 52 vacant posts of Senators, while 11 senators from Punjab have already elected unopposed, whereas, 37 seats were contested on March 03, 2021. The polling was held for 35 seats of three provincial Assemblies and 2 seats of federal capital area. The Senate Election of National Assembly got much importance from both Government and its rival Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The battle of two Senate Seats of capital territory became the prime focus of both PTI government and PDM alliance. PTI government exerted its full power to get its candidate Dr. Hafeez Shaikh be elected, similarly PDM also gave full threshold to capture the victory stand for Yousaf Raza Gilani as Senator. After conclusion of this political battle, PTI and allies were able to fetch total of 43 seats whereas PDM alliance was able to grab 51. Currently, PPP is heading to get support of PDM parties for Yousaf Raza Gilani for the position of Chairman Senate.
While grabbing the success in Senate election, PDM demanded that Prime Minister must step down by resigning from the office, as the government has lost the confidence of the parliament.
In fact, the victory of PDM could be possible due to defection of PTI parliamentarians from the party. Dozens of PTI Parliamentarians were unhappy from Party’s policies and dealing of the top leadership with them over the past two and half years. PTI was fearing of this situation, that several of its parliamentarians would likely part their ways during senate poll. Therefore, to evade this surprise, PTI aggressively campaigned for open ballot poll for senate election, intimidated its parliamentarians not to leave the party’s ranks and sorted several other illegal and condemnable tactics against its opponents during these senate polls. The end product of PTI’s efforts appeared in the shape of clear minority in the Upper House of the parliament. The opposition vowed to go for no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan in coming days.
After long meeting with his confederates, Prime Minster decided to take vote of confidence from the Parliament, an extra- bold decision, which could result in his clear defeat and ended up in the shape of collapse of PTI government. The defeat in Senate Election has put very drastic impacts on the loyalties of PTI ‘s parliamentarian, who had been side lined by the party. During these waning days, Imran Khan opted for vote of confidence, while announcing Khan’s decision, PTI Senior Vice President and Foreign Minster Qureshi said the vote of confidence would clear “who stands where” and those with PM Khan would be on one side, while the others would have the right to join other parties.
The latest development in the country’s politics had fueled a new debate among the political analysts and think tanks that whether another test of the already tested partners is a wise step or a political suicide by the incumbent government. One can term it the state of over confidence or Political delusion. Ostensibly, one thinks that if Imran Khan could not deliver his promises in two and half years, how would he do something for them after getting out of current catastrophe. So, PTI’s numbers are likely to shrink in next counting during vote of confidence.https://thefrontierpost.com/senate-poll-and-political-delusion/
The vote of confidence : edit in Daily Times,Mar 5, 2021
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Giliani’s victory in the Senate election has thrown a giant monkey wrench in the ruling party’s plans for the second half of the current electoral cycle and put Prime Minister Imran Khan in a very tight spot indeed. Still, his decision to seek a fresh vote of confidence from the national assembly is not only the correct way to proceed in a democratic setup but also reflects his conviction about being able to take the bull by the horns rather than make excuses that will not get anybody anywhere. Clearly in this position he needs to prove that he still has the confidence of the House to blunt some of the opposition’s sharpest criticism.
Despite the upset though the PTI leadership wouldn’t be too worried about unity in the ranks. The party’s female candidate was able to win from the capital with a comfortable majority, after all, so even though PTI’s claims about corruption are most likely very justified there is also the likelihood of some legislators expressing unhappiness with the prevailing economic situation by voting against their own finance minister. Yet the vote of confidence is a double edged sword and it is just as likely to cement the prime minister’s position somewhat once again as it is to send him packing.
Either way, the Senate result has given a fresh lease of life to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and all sorts of speculation about the opposition alliance losing momentum, which had been building for a good couple of months now, is going to subside very quickly. It also means that there is no longer any hope of some sort of reconciliation or political settlement between the opposing camps. Instead, the cleavage will widen and the opposition is going to use Yousaf Gilani’s win at every corner as it tries to pressure the prime minister into resigning. Therefore it doesn’t seem as if PTI has any easy options at this point. It must immediately begin to focus on showing results, especially when it comes to the economy and prices of items of everyday use. And that won’t happen till the prime minister begins to show the door to those members of his team that are big on making noise but very small when it comes to showing progress on the ground. Only the fittest should be allowed to survive in the federal cabinet and the process of elimination of those that are not up to the task has to begin at once. Going forward delivery will be key to PTI’s, and Imran Khan’s, survival.https://dailytimes.com.pk/730641/the-vote-of-confidence/
Published in Pak Media comment and Pakistan