Musharraf-Zardari Ally in Punjab

Taseer, a Musharraf ally, was appointed governor of Punjab, which is ruled by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). (Photo through Google)

"(Asif) Zardari has given a clear message to Nawaz Sharif that he is miss-fit in the incumbent system," senior political analyst Ansar Abbasi told IslamOnline.net.

"Efforts to kick him out are in the last stage."

PPP co-chairman Zardari has backed the appointment of Salman Taseer, a Musharraf ally, as governor of Punjab, which is ruled by Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

"Taseer has not been sent to Punjab to count the trees planted in the governor house," said Abbasi.

"He is there to get the loyalties of PML-N parliamentarians changed in order to topple their government (in Punjab)."

Taseer has been named after consultations with Zardari and his Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

"I want to make Punjab liberal rather than extremist," said Taseer, who visited the mausoleum of slain premier Benazir Bhutto after taking the oath, vowing to turn Punjab to a PPP bastion.

The PML-N made big election gains in Punjab, the power base of Pakistan's politics and the home province of rival Bhutto, in the February general elections.

It won 124 seats in the Punjab's 297-member provincial assembly, securing 62 of the province's 148-seat share in the 272-member National Assembly.

The PPP came second in Punjab, which was always considered as its stronghold and home to more than half of Pakistan's 160 million population.

The party suffered a humiliating defeat in the urban areas of Punjab, particularly in Lahore and the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where PML-N candidates defeated rivals from the PPP and the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim league (Q) with huge margins.

Controversial

The PML-N has boycotted Taseer's oath-taking ceremony, attended by PPP and PML(Q) leaders who chanted slogans in favor of the new governor.

The PML-N insists Taseer has been appointed without their knowledge.

"We have never been consulted by the PPP leadership," PML-N spokesman Siddique-al-Farooq told IOL.

"We are the senior coalition partners in Punjab. The PPP leadership must have consulted us before appointing him."

The PPP denied keeping the PML-N in the dark.

"Our leadership spoke to senior PML-N leaders about this issue. I don't know why they are saying that they were not consulted," said federal information minister Sherry Rehman.

But Sharif's party hit back.

"The PPP leadership simply informed us that they are going to appoint Taseer as governor tomorrow. There is a huge difference between information and consultation," said Farooq.

"Taseer is a highly controversial person. He has been supporting the dictatorial regime of Pervez Musharraf," PML-N spokesman Siddique-al-Farooq told IOL.

"His appointment as governor is highly deplorable."

Taseer, who owns a TV channel and two newspapers, is known for his pro-Musharraf views and is a staunch opponent of lawyers seeking the restoration of sacked top judges.

He has been using his channel and newspapers as a tool to propagate against the judges disposed by Musharraf late last year over fears of outlawing his controversial re-election as president-in-uniform.

Taseer had reportedly criticized the PPP leadership for supporting the lawyers movement and readiness to allow the restoration of the judges.

Sharif announced on Monday, May 12, the withdrawal of his party from the newly-formed coalition government over differences with the PPP regarding the re-installment of sacked judges.

Bye Sharif, Hi Musharraf

Many believe Taseer's appointment will be the last straw in the PPP-PML-N coalition.

"Now, it is totally up to the PPP to keep the coalition intact," stressed Farooq, the PML-N spokesman.

"Practically, the coalition is dead now," argues Abbasi, the political analyst.

"The credibility of this coalition was already damaged when the PML-N ministers quit the cabinet in protest against PPP's backtracking on its promise to reinstate the deposed judges, but the recent move has wiped out whatever the chances of reunification."

He argues that Taseer's appointment has brought PPP and Musharraf much closer.

"The cat has come out of bag now. The PPP after Feb 18 elections has appeared to be the extension of PML(Q) government. It has become the A team of Musharraf," he claimed.

"Sharif should be wise enough to understand that the PPP doesn't stand alongside him, but alongside Musharraf."

Arif Bahar, another political analyst, agrees.

"I don't think that the gulf created by some recent developments could be bridged.

"The coalition seems to be alive only in statements, otherwise it’s over."

Bahar notes that Sharif believes that Musharraf is miss-fit in the current system.

"But I think he is miss-fit in the system," he said.

"All the cases against Zardari have been withdrawn not for free. He has to pay back something in return. And that is to let the present system run smoothly."

Any government needs the support of at least 186 members, a two-thirds majority, to rule the Punjab.

The PPP, which has 106 seats in the Punjab's 297-member provincial assembly, can form a provincial government if its allies with the pro-Musharraf's PML-Q, which has 86 seats.

Analyst Bahardoes not buy Zardari's statements that he is seeking to maintain his coalition with the PML-N and persuade Sharif to withdraw the resignations.

"These words do not seem to be matched by deeds."