I predicted after BB’s death, that next PM would be a Sindhi and from the PPP. Welcome stance by President Musharraf and PM Soomro. :k:
PPP to be given ‘free hand’ in poll
By By Shafqat Ali
Monday December 31, 12:17 AM
Following the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the presidency has decided to give a “free hand” to the late Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the general election, official sources said. “The President (Pervez Musharraf) and the caretaker Prime Minister(Mohamamdmian Soomro) have reached a consensus of opinion on the point that the general elections should be postponed keeping in view the prevailing situation in the country, particularly in Sindh. They have also agreed to give a free hand to the PPP in the rescheduled elections,” a senior government official told this newspaper.
“They have also agreed upon working on all feasible suggestions put forward for making the election process transparent so that all the political parties might participate in the elections,” he said. “They think it is politically wise to announce a new date for elections after consulting with all major political parties,” said the official. “According to the reports of secret agencies, the PPP is expected to get more votes in the elections after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination than they ever got in the past,” he said. “There is a strong wave of sympathy for the PPP and the spirited supporters are expected to reach the polling stations in large numbers and would try their best to assure the victory of the PPP. Keeping the present situation in mind, especially the sense of deprivation for Sindhi masses, it has been decided (by the government) that priority for premiership would be given to PPP,” said the official.
“Moreover, there are more than 90 per cent chances of Makhdoom Amin Fahim becoming the next Prime Minister,” he said. Mr Fahim had earlier been nominated for the premiership in 2002, but he refused as Benazir Bhutto did not agree to become part of the government. Benazir Bhutto was abroad at that time but had a strong influence on her party and Amin Fahim was also not ready to be a part of the administration without her consent, particularly in the circumstances in which Benazir Bhutto was accused in the what the PPP says were “fabricated” cases. “Now, the situation is totally different as the ruling powers, presidency and the interim Cabinet are now in favour of giving the federal government to the PPP,” a senior government official said. “It has also been decided that if the PPP takes part in the upcoming elections, they will be given a free hand to negotiate with PML-N, PML-Q, MQM or ANP to get the required majority in the National Assembly,” the official said referring to the discussion between the President and the caretaker PM.
Well, I believe that Government (I mean Musharraf Government) would love to see PPP in power with 'Amin Faheem' as Prime Minister after next election if possible.
Well, I believe that Government (I mean Musharraf Government) would love to see PPP in power with 'Amin Faheem' as Prime Minister after next election if possible.
Bhai, Musharraf will get what he wanted in 2002, and in which BB had stopped, because she wanted her cases dropped first.
[quote] Mr Fahim had earlier been nominated for the premiership in 2002, but he refused as Benazir Bhutto did not agree to become part of the government. Benazir Bhutto was abroad at that time but had a strong influence on her party and Amin Fahim was also not ready to be a part of the administration without her consent
[/quote]
Bhai, Musharraf will get what he wanted in 2002, and in which BB had stopped, because she wanted her cases dropped first.
Brother, you are right. I wish that same had happened in 2002 as that would have brought more stability to the country. I can not say this time things would be that easy, as I can not even see PPP would get enough seats to come to power (I could be wrong ... Pakistani politics can give amazing results), but one can hope for the best.
I think that even though PPP did not came into government in 2002, they did not played such negative role that they left no hope with the government, but I believe that they have lost some public support and one have to see how many seats they can win. I think that if they had joined the government in 2002, they would have been much stronger party today.
The difference between 2002 and now is that the PPP will win big on it's own merit in a fair election while in 02 Musharraf wanted to separate Bhuttos from the PPP.
why did amin fahim and BB not see eye to eye in 2002? what was teh consensus of other leaders in PPP?
I don't think the other PPP leaders had much of a choice, as they didn't when Zardari was chosen by BB's will as their new leader the other day. If I remember correctly General Musharraf went specially to meet Fahim in a somewhat clandestine meeting at some eating place in Pindi. BB got wind of this, and summoned Fahim to Dubai, and he was told to back track on his deal with Musharraf for the premiership. No doubt she was not interested in a non-Bhutto PPP leader as PM of Pakistan. Now they don't have any chance but to accede to Fahim as PM if the PPP win the elections, as Zardari is not standing in the elections. But they will try to put fetters on Fahim if he becomes PM, but as we know the kursi can get quite warm for people, and Zardari may find it difficult to have his way.
NAUDERO: There is no question that the man, who Benazir Bhutto nominated for the post of prime minister should the Pakistan People’s Party come to power, is still Makhdoom Amin Fahim, said PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman. However, strangely enough, this was not the same response from the man himself. “I have no idea about it,” said Fahim, the PPP vice chairman, while responding to the question as to whether he was still the candidate. “I cannot say anything at this moment and the party will decide who it wants to place as the candidate for the PM.” However, Sherry Rehman categorically and emphatically told Daily Times, “There is no question that the PPP’s candidate would be anyone other than Makhdoom Amin Fahim. And he is tipped for it.” Fahim will be attending the PPP’s CEC meeting today (Wednesday), which will discuss any decision that the Election Commission takes. The party will have to determine its course of action if the elections are postponed. Fahim stuck to the stand elaborated by Zardari at the press conference on the fourth day after Benazir’s death. “We demand that the elections should be held on schedule,” he said, arguing that the PPP believed that its opponents would try to take advantage of a delay. Benazir tipped Fahim as the frontrunner as he was a stalwart of her father. Fahim was also the party’s candidate for prime minister after Mir Zafarullah Jamali was removed from the post. Fahim is considered one of the most sincere and close associates of Benazir Bhutto.
lol why is it that only the pml[qatil lotaz] are asking to postpone the elections?
They want to give people time to get over Benazir, so its easier for them to get back to election rigging and using state funds to finance their election bids at the expense of evryone else...
Plus if they tried to come out of hiding now, they might be beaten and dragged through the streets which many of them surely deserve:)
^^ atleast I don't care about pmlq . Its all about President Musharraf, May Allah Bless Him.
PML Q/MQM is the biggest mistake committed by Musharraf and the main reason for his low popularity....the best option for the time being would be to stop flirting with the idea of democracy in Pakistan.....and put back well reputed ministers/technocrats like Shaukat Aziz and Razzaq Dawood to run the country....
well PPP winning will bring stability to pakistan, i expect them to wipe sindh, while mqm will be just restricted to karachi this time, pmlq should easily be able to win alot of seats from punjab still while pppp will grab some seats from punjab due to sympathy vote, this election will also mark the end of pmln which will be history, while anp should win alot of seats in frontier.
all in all this elections will bring a national gov. with all major partys ppp, pmlq, mqm, anp, and musharraf heading the ship with makhdoom being his maid.
PML Q/MQM is the biggest mistake committed by Musharraf and the main reason for his low popularity....the best option for the time being would be to stop flirting with the idea of democracy in Pakistan.....and put back well reputed ministers/technocrats like Shaukat Aziz and Razzaq Dawood to run the country....
we are for democracy dude, we dnt want shariff type of demo-crazy here, if they are for his low popularity then what can he do, he wants democracy, balme the people who put them in power.
but one thing for sure, after this election we will have a national parliment which will boost musharrafs popularity big time.
we are for democracy dude, we dnt want shariff type of demo-crazy here, if they are for his low popularity then what can he do, he wants democracy, balme the people who put them in power.
but one thing for sure, after this election we will have a national parliment which will boost musharrafs popularity big time.
Democracy needs some evolution to take place.....it can not be implemented overnight by some changes in the laws as many people think...in an uncivilized society like ours.....this evolution has to take place before we can even think about democracy....
As far as people are concerned.....they will continue to send criminals and hate politicians to the parliament....
If Musharraf continues to rely on these mafia styled criminal who happen to be called politicians in Pakistan.....I think this will never happen....
Democracy needs some evolution to take place.....it can not be implemented overnight by some changes in the laws as many people think...in an uncivilized society like ours.....this evolution has to take place before we can even think about democracy....
As far as people are concerned.....they will continue to send criminals and hate politicians to the parliament....
If Musharraf continues to rely on these mafia styled criminal who happen to be called politicians in Pakistan.....I think this will never happen....
well i have always been saying it, that it will take many years for proper democracy to come, we need it from the grass roots. No one is saying that it will be an overnight process
but we are heading to that direction and must continue to go in that direction rather then derail it and go back to demo-crazy like in 90s.
and like i said we are expected to see a national assembly now which would make it alot better
^^ atleast I don't care about pmlq . Its all about President Musharraf, May Allah Bless Him.
And I do care about the country and countrymen, majority of whom are kept illiterate by political parties and establishment so they can worship personalities (civil or military). I don't care about any Immi or Mushy or NS. A person who can deliver and take out the country from darkness is the true leader. Musharraf to me and many others looked to be the man who can change the fortune of this country. But he played the exact same game as Ayub and Zia, economic 'growth' was not that bad in those dictator's tenure. But look at the outcome. One destroyed the political process in the country and planted seeds for disection of Pakistan. The other (Zia) gave Pakistan into US lap completely in the name of Islam and Jihad and filled the country with drugs, AK47 and jihaadiz. So the nation is suffering and who is getting the benefit??? Military and establishment mainly, regardless of who is in power. Its not tomorrow but a decade later, that people would know what kind of game US and our military has played this time around. There is only one rule in this game, NO SHAME!