Will govt be able to take advantage of split in Opp ranks?

ISLAMABAD -- The split in PDM's ranks has ostensibly not proved much helpful for the PTI's government to easily go for legislation in the Parliament on controversial bills related to electoral reforms.

The difference of opinion among opposition benches has not created a space for government to separately convince the parliamentary opposition faction on electronic voting machines [EVMs].

The government was confident to convince at least one major opposition party on electoral reforms when it observed a 'cold war' like situation between two major opposition parties [PPP-P and PML-N]. The government's attempt to avail opportunity proved futile as the opposition once again seemed united in the Parliament during joint session of the Parliament. Political observers viewed that government should first concentrate on its own coalition partners before convincing the opposition faction on electoral reforms. The allied partners MQM-P, PML-Q and GDA are not very comfortable for some of the reasons. The ruling party [PTI], in this regard, would separately hold meetings with its coalition partners to remove their reservations before start of the fourth parliamentary year. Political history reveals that the allies never shy to share a set of demands with their ruling party. In recent past history, the main parliamentary opposition parties [PML-N and PPP] had been seen to accommodate their coalition partners.

Govt to...