ISLAMABAD  - The role of coalition partners from the government and the opposition is mainly gauged during the legislative business in the Parliament.

The reservations of the allies have emerged before the main legislation proposed by the ruling party. The ruling party has to address the ‘suddenly emerged’ reservations of its like- minded parliamentary factions on priority basis. 

The unstable relation of the ruling party with the coalition partner has never been a new phenomenon in the Parliament.  The most unstable period in recent political history is said to be the tenure of Pakistan People’s Party [PPP-P], as its main coalition partner [MQM] had made a unique record repeatedly quitting and rejoining the government over the reservations.

The PTI’s government, as compared to the previous regimes [PPP-P and PML-N], has so far enjoyed good relations with its partners. Only one coalition partner from Balochistan [BNP-Mengal] parted ways around one year ago. 

The rest of the partners including MQM-P, PML-Q, GDA, AML are giving full support to the ruling party in all difficult times including No-Confidence Motion moved against Prime Minister Imran Khan and in other legislative matters.

The coalition partners of PTI’s government, in their recent meetings with the Prime Minister, have reposed full confidence in the ruling party for not ditching them in a difficult time. The government has planned to make legislation on electoral reforms in the current month.

Background discussions with senior members of the coalition partners revealed that all allies have expressed their agreement to pass legislation through majority vote in the upcoming joint sitting of the Parliament.

“I agree with stance of the PTI over electronic voting machine (EVM). The opposition has no concrete grounds to oppose it,” said GDA’s senior member/ Minister for IPC D. Fehmida Mirza talking to this newspaper.

Likewise, the main coalition partners [MQM-P and PML-Q) have recently held parleys with senior member of PTI assuring their support for the proposed legislation. The allied partners have reportedly expressed reservations about the uncaring attitude of the ruling party [PTI] towards them in the main decisions.

With their support, sources said they also expressed reservations over some of the matters that would surely be addressed sooner than later.

On the other hand, the coalition partners from opposition benches are also engaged with each other to give tough times to the government in legislation. 

The recent split in PDM’s ranks proved a sigh of relief for the ruling party. The crack emerged in the opposition is widening on multiple issues, which is making easy for the government to do legislation in the Parliament.

Political observers view that the government has the last option to Bulldoze crucial legislation, as the opposition does not agree with the government’s proposal.  Opposition parties have termed the electronic voting machines (EVMs) a plan to ‘rig’ next general polls. Whereas, the government consider it last resort to conduct ‘free, fair and transparent polls’ in future. The PTI’s government, which enjoys a majority in the two houses [National Assembly and Senate] combined together, taking the plea under Article-70 of the Constitution would easily be able to defeat the opposition. The government side has recently managed to refer these bills to the joint sitting of Parliament and planning is underway to pass these bills from the joint session.