The game is on.

Byline: Zahid Hussain

IT will be a secret ballot at the Senate elections. The Supreme Court decision is unambiguous. Yet it has not ended the controversy. It's hard for the PTI government to swallow more embarrassment after the NA-75 by-election fiasco.

The rejection of yet another presidential reference by the apex court has dealt a serious political blow to Prime Minister Imran Khan. It's not a good omen for the government in the run-up to a critical battle for the control of the upper house of parliament.

While no surprise is expected regarding the provinces, the entire focus is now on the contest for the Islamabad seat. It's the most critical test indeed for a fledgling ruling coalition with a pumped-up opposition alliance trying to snatch a surprise victory. The wheeling and dealing is in full swing to win over disgruntled members of the opposing camps.

The prime minister who is rarely seen in parliament has now camped out in his chamber to do some damage control. The Daska by-election debacle and the setback in the Supreme Court on the presidential reference pertaining to changing the secret-balloting rule in the polls has demoralised the treasury benches. Secret balloting now makes it easier for those ready to switch sides.

The PDM appears much more confident despite the fact that it is lacking in numbers.

While the contest for the Islamabad seat is the focal point, the elections for provincial representations is not likely to produce any major upset. Interestingly, in the midst of their intense hostility, the PTI and PML-N reached a deal that got all candidates from Punjab elected unopposed.

Each party got seats in proportion to its strength in the legislative assembly. This kind of arrangement, and that too between two bitter rivals, is a rare feat in Pakistan's electoral history. It is said to be the result of a backchannel effort by Pervaiz Elahi, speaker of the Punjab Assembly and leader of the PML-Q which is a partner of the PTI in the coalition at the centre and in the province.

Curiously, the deal took place at the height of the Daska by-election controversy that had rendered the political atmosphere in the province more toxic. The arrangement has certainly saved both parties from any possible embarrassment in the election.

It may have come as a great relief particularly to the PTI leadership in the province where it is facing brewing discontent in party ranks. But for the PML-N, too, the arrangement has worked well, allowing...