- It never rains but it pours… Nawaz Sharif ready to support the PPP to form its Government…
Its sad that the PPP is resorting to such support. The PPP stood up for democracy in the past, and they must do so again, but they must not endorse the very elements that corroded the party in the past. Being part of alliances, such as the MRD and the ARD is another thing, but siding with Nawaz to form the Government is deplorable.*
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LAHORE, Sept 2: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will be ready to go further ahead and support the PPP form its government after the October elections if the parliamentary strength of the two parties - and their respective allies - adds up to form simple majority.
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These signals have been sent by the PML(N)'s exiled leader to some ARD leaders, specially the ones who have played an important role in bringing the adversaries of the past on a single platform.
Earlier on Saturday, the PML leader had stunned his friends as well as foes by taking an unbelievable step of rescinding his duly approved nomination papers to protest rejection of Benazir Bhutto’s candidature.
Sources say that the PML(N) cooperation will be forthcoming regardless of whether the two parties succeed in making electoral adjustments or not.
Some leaders of the PML(N), working out adjustments with other parties, had said recently that they would prefer to go with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Aml, as the two were natural allies. They had indicated that the party would make either partial adjustments with the PPP or no adjustments at all.
But the gesture made by the deposed prime minister has brought a qualitative change in the situation, the sources say.
So far, the two parties have not been able to make adjustments even on important seats. It is for this reason that NWFP PML(N) secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, who is also central secretary-general of the ARD, has been challenged by a PPP nominee.
PPP Secretary-General Jehangir Badar faces a similar situation in Lahore. Jhagra reportedly feels upset and he will take up the matter with the ARD leadership at a meeting in Islamabad on Sept 5. The alliance leaders are expected to discuss their election strategy in detail.
The ARD sources don’t subscribe to press reports that the alliance of over half a dozen parties may boycott the elections. “The situation is not conducive for a boycott. Such a decision cannot be taken unless the electorate are first prepared to stay away from the polls,” the alliance sources said.
They were of the opinion that a boycott decision without first creating the required atmosphere might be counterproductive.
It is said that Mian Nawaz Sharif will prefer to see the PPP in power rather than Gen Pervez Musharraf. To oust the general, who had toppled the PML(N) government in October 1999, the exiled Sharifs are ready to go to any extent, ARD sources claim.
