Chowrangi

The routing and sweeping of February 18th has opened up the eyes of PML-Queers big time. Especially in Punjab things are very ugly for them.

Punjab is the biggest parliament in Pakistan with 297 members. PML-N has got 103 seats in this crucial province. PPP is also an aspirant to form a government in Punjab with 79 seats. PML-N has also got the support of two MPAs of MMA, 3 members of PML-Functional and according to the reports from newspapers 30 independent members are also with the PML-N and they will appear at the last stages of government formation.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is trying hard to make government in Punjab province. It apparantly seems an easy ask for them to form government in that province after gaining majority, but the their are many things hampering their sweep in this province, which is the most populist area in Pakistan, and also the most crucial one.

Khawaja Saad Rafique has also conceded that there are many problems including the PPP’s greed to takeover Punjab too along with Center and Sindh. PPP is also trying to take over Balochistan and NWFP, but it looks hard. Shah Mehmood Qureshi is very hyper-active in Punjab to form a PPP government and to become a chief minister after getting out of the race of Prime Minister and in that regard he has got the support of Manzoor Wattoo from Okara, and from Hamid Nasir Chatta from Gujranwala.

Those who thought that a new era will begin after the elections will have to think again. Already there is talk of defections and horse trading is sure to follow. If Musharraf doesn’t resign and Nawaz insists that he should go or the judges should be restored, the people may protest in the streets (like they did to remove Ayub Khan and Bhutto).

National government is in the offing, though it’s viability and modality is still very much engulfed in the dark clouds of ifs and buts, and also there are numerous questions to be answered yet from both sides. MQM is one of them.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement has once again gained seats in Karachi and Hyderabad, and in many constituencies where they have won, the opponents are decrying the results and raising hell with the allegations of rigging. It’s been the hallmark of MQM to act negative and then become a victim.

Elections have passed peacefully without any big mishap aside twenty seven killed and some injured. On the collective, everything was peaceful and as I thought that circumstances will turn uncontrollable after the elections, nothing has happened. That is all because the elections have been conducted fairly and the nation is now pretty satisfied. Let’s hope things will remain accordingly as nation wishes.

MQM in this election has secured (according to the so far unofficial results) 19 seats in the NA. While this has made it the fourth largest party in the house, unfortunately for MQM, it is in an even worse position than PML-Q.

PML-Q being the open opponent of both PPP and PML-N is all set to be the major opposition party. It cannot and, most likely, will not make government with PML-N or PPP, nor can it make govt with the other forces leaving the two front runners aside.

Results are becoming clearer and a shape is being formed. From 268 seats of National Assembly, almost 255 seats have been announced. From those PPP is leading with 86 seats, 66 seats have been occupied by PML-N, PML-Q with 36, ANP is there with 10, and MQM is with 19 seats, and MMA has taken just 3 seats.

The parliament is hung, and a coalition government is inevitable in the center. Now the government could be formed between PML-N, PPP and ANP, or if PPP doesn’t come to the terms with PML-N on the matters of judiciary then PML-N could try to break the shards from PML-Q (it wouldnt need to try anyway, as the lotas are already wringing).

The Pakistanis have given their verdict. They have revealed their will. They have taken their revenge through their votes. These elections have proved a referendum against the thugs of PML-Q. These elections have been the litmus test for the forces of light and between the forces of darkness.

Though Chaudharies of Gujrat have accepted their defeat, but Chaudhry Gujrat, who has been defeated in Gujrat by Ahmad Mukhtar of PPP, has already started his efforts to try and create rifts between PML-N and PPP. He knows that PPP isn’t very much clear about the reinstatement of judges, and Nawaz Sharif has over-committed the cause of judiciary, so he is challenging Nawaz Sharif.

While Election Commission of Pakistan and the administration claims to have conducted free and fair elections, ground realities are bit different. Elections 2008 were mostly fair and people of Pakistan have vented their anger and frustration on the ballot paper. Rigging incidents were reported across the country, however, these incidents were not big enough to change overall national scenario or visibly tilt balance of power to one party. Majority of rigging was done at specific polling booths by parties that wanted to show large lead over opponents, which is a trademark of theirs.

Maj. General (Retd.) Rashid Qureshi has tried to throw cold water upon the glee of happy nation by saying that President Musharraf has been elected as President for another five years, and the demand of Nawaz Sharif that he should step down cannot be accepted. He further added that the elections were not presidential elections, rather they were for the prime minister.

President himself said that he would go when nation wanted him to go, and this election result is the clear message by nation for him. They rejected his policies and his party, and they clearly want a change, and they really mean it. They want democracy and they want justice and they want to exercise their basic rights.