Punjab By-Polls A Litmus Test For PML-N, PTI.

ISLAMABAD -- With the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) aggressively defending its throne and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) desperate to avenge its April 2022 defeat in the Punjab Assembly, a do-or-die battle is on the cards in the populous province of the country.

The two politically rival parties would be grappling with each other again but this time out of the House in the most crucial polls on 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly. Punjab continued to witness bizarre yet interesting political developments in the recent weeks. Some atypical chapters have been added to the political and parliamentary history of the country. Political crisis, to which the country is no stranger, touched new heights in recent days as things seemingly turned personal instead of being political. Ego of the politicians and intolerance resulted in acrimony and hostility. Still, one can expect more in the coming days as the climax of the political drama is yet to come.

The PTI had lost its razor-thin majority in the Punjab Assembly in April after 25 of its lawmakers including five elected on the reserved seats sided with its rival, the PML-N, in the election for Punjab chief minister. The PTI is hoping to come back to power in the province by winning a majority of the seats in the by-polls. On the other side, the PML-N needs a big win to ensure that its newly-appointed chief minister, Hamza Shehbaz, retains his seat of power. So, the July 17 by-polls are a litmus test of the popularity of both the PTI and the ruling-PML-N and also crucial to rule the country's most populous and politically important province.

Currently, the PML-N is in the government with almost no majority and a slighter change in the number of seats in the House may push it out of power. The results of the by-elections would define the course of future politics in the country as formation of the PTI government in the province may pave the way for new elections as well.

A new round of political activity - more aggressive and harsher - is likely to begin after the July 17 by-polls and the power game is likely to continue till the drop scene; announcement of new elections in the country. Following the results, the political situation in Punjab may take sudden turns. Two different scenarios can develop; one that PML-N gains majority of the seats in the by-elections and consolidates its position in the province and the other may lead to change of the provincial government for...