The Hindu : Rebel Muslim Leaguers choose CM candidate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 27, 2002

International

International

Rebel Muslim Leaguers choose CM candidate

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Oct. 26. A fortnight after the general election, the first sign of semblance of return to civilian rule in Pakistan was evident today with the rebel Muslim Leaguers choosing their Chief Ministerial candidate for the Punjab province.

With the decision of a number of newly-elected independent members choosing to join the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) nicknamed as `King's party', the rebel Leaguers command confidence of more than half the members in the Punjab Assembly.

Pervez Ellahi, a powerful member of the Chaudhary clan in Gujarat in the Punjab province, has been elected as the leader of the group in the House. Now the ball would be in the court of the Governor to summon the House.

Under the new laws promulgated by Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, the first session of the Assemblies are to elect Speaker and Deputy Speaker followed by `election' of Leader of the House who would be sworn in Chief Minister.

There have been contradictory and conflicting statements by various functionaries of the Musharraf regime on the `legal formalities' to be completed before the Assemblies could be summoned for transfer of power by the military to a civilian setup. Mainstream political parties have accused the Government of deliberately delaying the process of transfer of power.

The Pakistan Law Minister, Khalid Ranja, in his latest statement has maintained that newly-elected members to the National and Provincial Assemblies would elect their respective Leader of the Houses (Prime Minister and Chief Ministers) by `show of hands'. Two days ago he had said it would be by `secret ballot'.

Observers see the success of the `King's party' in the takeover of the Punjab province as the first step before it moved to occupy the Prime Ministerial position. Hectic efforts are on by the rebel Leaguers to woo the members of the Benazir party and the alliance of religious parties to command a simple majority.

So far they have not succeeded. The constitutional amendments made by Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, appears to be one of the major stumbling block in the coming together of the rebel Leaguers and one of the two other combinations.

Assertion made by the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) and the Mutahida-Majlas-i-Amal (MMA) that they would reach a `positive conclusion' on formation of government by Monday evening should be a matter of concern to the `King's party'. At the same time they are conscious of the serious differences between the Benazir party and the religious parties particularly on the foreign policy front.

There have been speculative reports in Pakistan media suggesting that the U.S. is not comfortable with the idea of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) being part of any coalition at the national level. Americans do have a great deal of influence on Benazir Bhutto.

The chief of the MMA, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, called on the PPPP leader, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, and exchanged views on the progress in government formation so far. He told correspondents that the meeting was held in a very pleasant manner and they exchanged views on the current political situation, formation of government in centre, Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP and also considered options to enhance the parliamentary strength of both the MMA and the PPPP.

They also discussed various other problems of the country particularly problems of the provinces and their point of view was same on the issues of provinces. The Maulana said that both the parties have presented their point of view on formation of government and decided that they would reach a final positive understanding on Monday evening.

He asserted that there was no `deadlock' with the MMA and the PPPP and talks would continue. Maulana Noorani said efforts were on to form government with the participation of all the three major parties and the MMA wanted its candidate, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, to be the Prime Minister. To another question, he said that the MMA had its own policy and it was negotiating in the light of the policy to bring out the country from the prevailing political impasse.

Mr. Amin told the journalists that unity for formation of government, protection of rights and sustainable democracy were the need of the hour and important with all the parliamentary parties. "Politics is the game of possibilities and no party has adopted stubborn attitude during talks.''

He said there was no deadlock and efforts were under way to form a government with broad consensus. "The PPPP is also in contact with the PML(Q) and is trying to avoid any controversy at this point in time to find a way for better future of the country.'' He said, although the PPPP had got highest votes in the election, the formation of government was a democratic right of every political party.

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