'N', PPP poles apart on LGs

ISLAMABAD — Contentious issues relating to the fate of District/City Governments and accountability of
Musharraf regime have widened the gulf between major political players, the ruling PPP, and the main
opposition party PML-N.
Well-placed political sources told TheNation on Monday that the simmering differences between the ‘strange
bedfellows’ have come to fore ahead of their serious move to start implementing the Charter of Democracy
(CoD).
“PPP is shying away from serious accountability of the PML-Q-led previous government and restoration of
commissionerate system in the country”, a senior PML-N lead said.
He did not substantiate, quickly adding PML-N was committed to do away with the controversial 17th
Constitutional Amendment and President’s power to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58(2)B that
requires Parliament’S support and ratification.
“Government needs two/third majority of the National Assembly as well as the Senate to undo these parts of the
Constitution”, a leading constitution expert and lawyer said.
The PML-N sources said that PPP wants to take advantage of restoring the old commssionerate system that
was replaced by the incumbent district/city governments in the country but was facing stiff resistance from its two
coalition partners, the MQM and the JUI (F).
They said, in Punjab, the most populous province of the country, PPP also wants to take major share in the future
local governments to consolidate its political position in the province, but at the expense of PML-N which forms
majority in the provincial assembly.
The PML-N sources also criticized the PPP for keeping back-door contacts with the PML-Q leadership just to
keep the PML-N at bay. PML-Q enjoys very strong support in the incumbent district governments in the Punjab
province.
“These issues were becoming headache for both the PPP and the PML-N to improve their working relations,” a
party leader said requesting not to be named.
He said these differences might add up to bigger problem if leadership did not address them serious ahead of
the next elections for the local governments likely to be held later this year.
He said the issue of accountability of the ex-rulers was also becoming a seriously contentious matter for both the
parties and could further widen the gulf between the two that are committed to implement the CoD in its letter
and spirit.