Gilani’s controversial defeat could boost PDM’s long march impact

ISLAMABAD   –  Pakistan Democratic Movement’s controversial defeat in the Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman’s election may have injected the required fuel into the Opposition’s train for the upcoming long march against the government.

The contest was too close than it seemed in the end.

Yousaf Raza Gilani could have knocked out Sadiq Sanjrani with one vote if the seven rejected votes were counted. All of them were cast for Gilani.

The voters could have been on a “mission” to create a gap for Sanjrani to run away with the victory. Otherwise, the Opposition had a slight advantage in the election.

Maulana Ghafoor Haidri received more valid votes,44,than Gilani in the Deputy Chairman’s election. And interestingly, Mirza Mohammad Afridi also received more votes than Sanjrani.

He attracted 54 votes to bag the Deputy Chairman’s seat.

But Gilani’s controversial defeat could have gifted another issue to the PDM as they plan to topple the government. The PDM is ready to launch a long march against the government on March 26. Thee have been differences among the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) on how to go about the anti-government campaign.

Gilani’s defeat could remove the differences to make the long march stronger and perhaps longer. The PPP is also considering two options. PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the party can either challenge Sanjrani’s victory in court or bring a no-confidence motion against him.

Former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the results were unacceptable. “We reject this election. The PDM rejects this election,” he said.

Ashraf said the long march would wash away the government as the people had rejected the rulers. PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the PDM will not let the government steal the results. “The long march will decide which side enjoys people’s mandate. The government’s illegal practices are about to end,” he said.

The tension between the government and the Opposition has been brewing since the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf won the 2018 polls.

The PTI also managed to form the provincial government in Punjab despite the PML-N emerging as the largest party. The PTI was slightly behind but garnered the support of independents and smaller parties to get the required strength to form the government. The PDM, led by the PPP, the PML-N and the JUI-F has planned a showdown with the government on March 26 which could turn into a massive sit-in. PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said the upcoming long march could be the last one for the government. “This government has no public backing. We will send this government packing,” he stated. Kaira said the PDM was united against the government and determined to show it the door. He said the PPP will observe Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary at the D-Chowk.

Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the Opposition’s sinister plans had  been exposed.  “They are using all “criminal tactics” because they know they don’t have the support of the majority,” he said,

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed ruled out the possibility of a change in result in the Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman’s election.

“Nothing will happen. In Pakistan, it has become a pattern that those who lose they don’t accept their defeat,” he said. He said the Opposition will not be stopped from holding protests and rallies.