From 'Get-Punjab' to get trust plan

The strategy being pursued actively by PPP leaders, especially President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, to revive mutual trust and confidence and develop strong political relationship with the PML-N, is being seen a good omen for the country, economy and the government as well. Last month, the disqualification of top PML-N leaders, Mian Nawaz Sharif, former Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, and abrupt removal of their government in Punjab, created a wide rift in the political ties between the two leading coalition partners besides seriously jeopardising the entire political system of the country. From disqualification of Sharifs to the Long March, reinstatement of the sacked Chief Justice of Pakistan and other judges, the entire nation spent almost a month in anxiety, restlessness and tension while the entire political system was driven in the direction of collision and anarchy. The reinstatement of the judges and a candid meeting of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with PML-N leaders in Raiwind, near Lahore, calmed down the political tension after the two mainstream political parties - PPP and PML-N - agreed to work together to strengthen the country and reform the system. However, the government's move of greater reconciliation is being viewed with suspicion because of the past record of President Asif Ali Zardari. Many political observers and analysts still believe that the President and his close aides would do something that would again create rumpus in the political system. Now it depends on the President and his advisers as to how much importance they give to their fresh commitments with the PML-N and the masses of the country. The sane elements in the political parties, including those in PPP, are of the opinion that Zardari should abandon his advisers who had defamed him, the PPP, and plunged the whole country into a serious crisis and anarchy. They also believe that now the fate of the PPP government and the party itself, in fact, is in the hands of President Zardari and his advisers. Because if the President or of his key advisers, committed another political blunder, it might prove their last political adventure and might seal the fate of PPP government. If President Asif Ali Zardari wants to smoothen his relationship with the PML-N and other parties, he should immediately send home his advisers whose myopic vision had pushed the country towards a serious crisis. Meanwhile, to complete five-year term of his government and to unite the PPP, Zardari should foil attempts being made to create rift between him and the Bhuttos regarding the gruesome murder of Benazir Bhutto, and their assets. The hawks in the PPP should also look into the circumstances that had left the important PPP leaders like Raza Rabbani and Sherry Rehman, with no other choice but to quit the government. On the one hand, new team of the PPP decision-makers had already sidelined most of the old guards of the party while on the other, important members of the current team are gradually sidelining from the government and the party itself. To sum up, instead of destabilising the country, undermining the PPP government and the political system, the PPP decision-makers should display wisdom and sagacity in order to strengthen the system and solve long-standing issues and demands of the masses.

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