Though the PTI lost the two recent bye-elections in Punjab but the margin of victory of two Nawaz League’s winning candidates was so narrow that the ruling party leaders must have lost their sleep over it. Whosoever wins in the Punjab forms the Federal government and odds are that the PTI might spring a surprise in the Punjab in the 2018 elections. At the moment the political analysts see no chance of the PPP’s renaissance in Punjab unless there is a miracle which doesn’t happen these days frequently.
The PTI has certainly emerged as the only viable alternative to Nawaz League in the country despite mistakes committed by its leadership in some cases in the past. The rejoicing shown by Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the PM over these victories was certainly out of place and out of sync with the ground realities in the country. Instead of boasting about the popularity of her political party she should be worrying about the inroads made by the PTI into the vote bank of her party. Likewise, Bilawal too should not only mourn the demise of the PPP in the biggest province of the country which was once its power base, causes of its decline should also be analysed and a proper political strategy be worked out before the next polls which are not far away now. Altaf Hussain is to blame none but himself for the trouble he has landed himself in. It seems that so far his link with Pakistan is concerned he has crossed the Rubicon. He will live to rue and regret the day when he spoke against the country which gave him his identity.
POSTSCRIPT:The DG Rangers had a point there when he said that one of the root cause of friction between the Urdu speaking population of Sindh and Sindhis is the quota system which needs to be reviewed.