ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Peoples Party number game for the slot of opposition leader has entered a crucial stage.
Both have been in constant contact with the leadership of smaller opposition parties including Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid.
The PTI has a total of 32 MNAs in the National Assembly, three of whom – Ayesha Gulalai, Siraj Muhammad Khan, and Nasir Khattak – have essentially parted ways from the party.
Clouds of uncertainty still loom over any chance of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) entering into an alliance without attaching any conditions over the nomination of a candidate for opposition leader, but given its 22 MNAs, the party still carries some weight.
MQM had 24 MNAs in the assembly, but Asif Hasnain has since joined the PSP and Sufyan Yousuf is currently living in London and had shown his allegiance with MQM founder Altaf Hussain.
If PTI and MQM join hands, they would have a total of 51 MPs supporting their candidate, and the sole Awami Muslim League MP – Sheikh Rashid – would push this number to 52.
On the other hand, the largest opposition party, the PPP has a total of 47 MNAs. Awami National Party and Quami Watan Party (Sherpao) have announced their support for Khurshid Shah. Both these parties have three MNAs in the National Assembly. In this way, PPP already has the support of 50 MNAs to oppose PTI and MQM.
And there comes the significance of JI’s four MNAs and PML-Q’s two MNAs. Along with independents, these five votes would be decisive.
JI MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah said PTI and PPP leaders recently approached the JI’s leadership. He said a PTI delegation was scheduled to formally hold a meeting with the JI leaders on November 3, while the PPP would meet his party’s leaders during the next week.
He added that the JI would take a decision after meeting with both sides.