PPP may face fresh political challenges: analysts
September 08, 2012 -- Source
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is likely to face fresh challenges of strong political opposition in Sindh after promulgation of Sindh People's Local Government Ordinance 2012 (SPLGO 2012), analysts said. Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan on Friday signed SPLGO 2012, introducing a new local body system in the province. However, interestingly, now two separate local body systems will run in Sindh.
Sindh coalition parties have expressed strong reservation over the ordinance, saying except PPP and MQM, no other coalition partner was invited to join the parleys on the issue. After the announcement of SPLGO 2012, all coalition parties except MQM announced that they are quitting the government, as PPP didn't take them into confidence over the new ordinance. There are also reports that a number of political leaders within PPP are also opposing the new ordinance, therefore it is likely that ruling PPP may face new challenges of strong political opposition in Sindh. Besides coalition partners, other nationalist parties have also strongly opposed SPLGO 2012 and demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance.
Sources said Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday called a meeting of coalition partners to take them into confidence over the new SPLGO 2012, however Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) and National Peoples Party (NPP) refused to attend the meeting. They were of the view that the government has still not issued new local bodies' ordinance, signed by the governor on the summary of the CM. "PPP government is keeping it secrete from public....even coalition parties are unable to get a copy of it. "In this situation, when only two parties are taking decision, this is not possible for us to continue as a coalition partner of PPP govt," they added.
Sindh Assembly has some 168 seats, of which PPP is leading with 93 seats; MQM is second with 51 members. Although, PPP enjoys majority to set up its government, but it established a coalition government by accommodating almost all the parties. However, now four parties - ANP, PML-F, PML-Q and NPP - have announced to disassociate from coalition government in Sindh. Presently, ANP has 2 seats, NPP 3, PML-Q 8 and PML-F 8 in the provincial assembly. Analysts say after the promulgation of new ordinance political uncertainty has gripped Sindh bringing new challenges for the ruling party ahead of general elections.