Bilawal Bhutto, Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party, has unveiled a new strategy against the government, which had surprised many members of the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). Peoples Party is now starting consultation within the alliance.
Bilawal Bhutto in his speech in Larkana said that “10 rallies will not affect the government but a no-confidence Motion will rattle the government.” He said action inside the parliament, referring to no-confidence motion, would be the constitutional way to send the PTI government home. “No-confidence motion is a democratic way to send the incompetent government packing,” the PPP chairman added.
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf government has only 180 members out of the 324-members of the National Assembly. Since PTI government has only 8 more than the required simple majority of 172, Peoples Party believed that a no-confidence motion could be successful against the government. Some sources said that the timing of the no-confidence motion would be decided in a grand meeting of the opposition parties. However, most likely chance for this motion is just after the Senate election.
Bilawal Bhutto said Peoples Party would “convince opposition parties to adopt the strategy of bringing a no-confidence motion in the assembly instead of holding public rallies.” He said meeting with the political parties over the cup of tea during the no-confidence motion would rattle the government.
His admission of failure of PDM strategy to hold public rallies was a blow to the two major parties, Pakistan Muslim League and JUI-F, of the PDM. Bilawal Bhutto has shown the party’s intention to distance itself from the proposed long march. This was a shock for the JUI-F as Molana Fazalur Rehman has been warming up his followers in every rally for the proposed Long March. Former Federal Minister and senior PML-N leader, Ahsan Iqbal has opposed the strategy of a no-confidence motion.
Pakistan Peoples Party has been changing its strategy since the former President Asif Ali Zardari has become active in the PDM. He had convinced the PDM leadership to change the decision of resigning from assemblies. He had been suggesting PDM that opposition parties should be active in the National Assembly.
