LAHORE 

As the PML-N has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly, Mian Nawaz Sharif will set a new record in the country’s history by becoming the prime minister for a third term.

And with the PML-N assuming power, the fate of President Zardari and all four provincial governors hangs in the balance.

President Zardari has already lost all vital powers since the enactment of the 18th constitutional amendment. And with the PML-N returning to power, he will not be allowed to transgress his jurisdiction. The court has already disallowed him to take part in any political activity, because of which his status in the times ahead will be that of an inmate of a ‘five-star prison’, or the presidency.

President Zardari was once the most powerful head of the state. He had all the powers that were available to Gen Musharraf under the 17th amendment. And since he was also exercising all powers of the ruling PPP chairman, no other head of state was comparable to him.

Under the constitution, the president can be removed through a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of parliament. For the time being, the PML-N will not be in a position to get rid of him because of the lack of the required parliamentary support.

To be able to remove the president, the PML-N will have to seek support from other parties, especially those having sufficient representation in the Upper House of parliament.

Even if the PML-N did not try to remove him, it will be very difficult for President Zardari to co-exist with the new government.

According to a political observer, the status of President Zardari will now be no different from that of the late president Fazal Elahi Chaudhry, who was the head of state when Mr Bhutto was the prime minister.

In those days, on the boundary walls of the presidency were seen demands: “Release President Elahi”.

Although the PML-N remained part of the PPP-led coalition for about 40 days, Mr Sharif pulled the party out of the setup when the president failed to honour his commitment about the restoration of the sacked judges.

Since then, the PML-N has consistently been critical of the president.

Former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif said many a time that he would bring back toPakistanthe money the president was keeping in Swiss banks.

When the PML-N has so much negative opinion of the president, there is little possibility of their joining hands with the PPP for a coalition.

The PML-N has also been demanding the removal of the provincial governors to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the May 11 polls.

But now that the PML-N would itself be in power, all the four governors are certainly on their way out.