Adil Najam
Before the elections Dawn News had done a series on who should become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. I am not sure what the result there was. But I do know that the question is real again. Much more real.
Speculation is rife. Theories about. The more we talk about it, the more confused we get. The game is interesting, but is it just a game?
There are too many questions, and too few answers.
- Will we get a grand ‘coalition of [nearly] the whole, which will have 3/4th majority and could replace the President and rehabilitate the Constitution?
- Will PPP and PML-N part ways - either because PML-N will choose to be the ‘friendly’ opposition or because they both realize they cannot work together?
- What about the PML-Q? They are also talking to the PPP. Is a PPP-PML-Q coalition on teh cards?
- They say Amin Fahim is over, is he?
- Will we get a PM from the Punjab - Gillani, Qureshi or Mukhtar - to highlight that PPP is not just a ‘Sindhi’ party? If so, will this is permanent or temporary while the party waits for Asif Zardari to be elected from somewhere?
- With Maulana Fazlur Rahman doing his ‘meetings’, is he still in the game?
- What about the ANP? Could we see a consensus candidate emerging from there in the ruling coalition?
- And what about the provinces. It seemed that things were clear - PML-N in the Punjab, PPP in Sindh, ANP in NWFP and PML-Q in Balochistan. Will that actually be?
And you could answer any of them in the affirmative depending on what you already think and which news reports you have been reading. Any ideas what might actually happen?
In a recent post on ATP ‘temporal‘ had asked who should become the next president of Pakistan. We ask a similar question today but the intent this time is not normative, but practical. The question, this time, is not who should become the next President, but who you think will become the next Prime Minister, given the way the cards have been dealt with the last elections.
so, Koun Baney Ga Wazeer-i-Aazm? Any thoughts?
Somebody who can perform miracle,Ahmed Mukhtar has done one by defeating ch Shuj in Gujrat.It will take another miracle to oust the dictator.
Whether we like it or not, the 4 province mandate is with PPP this time. All other parties have emerged as 1-province only parties. so the PM should come from PPP. He/She should be elected on the basis of his ‘diplomatic’ skills ‘jo chalay to sub ko saath le kar chalay’. He/she can come from any province.
The unofficial Provincial quota should come at lower posts like cabinet and Ministers etc.
I think ‘Yousuf Raza Gilani’ of Multan may be a good choice for the post of PM.
I think they are still short of getting 3/4 majority in the parliament and its going to hard for them to get all constitutional package done so smoothly.
As far as candidate for PM is concerned, Fahim is still front runner but he is not that bold to take some strong positions. If he is not there then Gillani is likely to get it. Additionally, Fahim if not PM surely would be getting CM slot for his son in Sind.
Maulana is in the power game as his role is very crucial for ousting PML-Q from Baluchistan.
ANP has already nominated Hoti for the post as Bilour family could not get that post because PPP was against his nomination due to murder feud going on between PPP and Bilour family.
The qualification for the prime minister should be:
1. He/she should not be chamcha of the dictator
2. Believe in and practice rule of law.
3. He should not be greedy.
4. Must be pragmatic and not emotional
I do not know how all the individuals whose pictures are displayed meet these qualifications.
As far as Shaukat Aziz is concerned, he is disqualified because he does not even meet the first requirement.
I’d say we need someone from the South Eastern Frontier Province. Maybe Zardari? Or Altaf Hussain?
I would prefer Shaukat Aziz since he his reign heralded a period of unprecedented economic growth, second highest in Asia after China. But since he has retired from Politics, I would rather wait for Bilawal Bhutto. I don’t really care who would rule until then.
Give a chance to someone from Frontier area (Sarhad).
Punjab , Sindh and Balochastan all had PM’s before but never from Sarhad.
@ since in ppp ” joton mein daal batay gi ”
the best is Nawaz Sharif the most justified, merit acquired
stateman who had unique and handsome majority before
being illigaly ousted by Mushy.