LAHORE:

In a bizarre political development that has sent ripples through the nation’s democratic fabric, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have reportedly finalised a power-sharing formula for Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the arrangement—wherein the PML-N will formally occupy the opposition benches while simultaneously propping up the government—has drawn scathing criticism from leading political analysts who describe it as a blatant mockery of parliamentary norms.

A Mockery of Parliamentary Norms

Former caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Hasan Askari Rizvi condemned the arrangement, asserting that a leader of the opposition belonging to the ruling coalition is akin to institutionalising an entrenched personalised rule. "This is a personalised rule, though there is no authority that can check such distortions," Rizvi observed, highlighting the paradox that the three major players in Gilgit-Baltistan are already allies in the central government in Islamabad.

"We have political parties, elections, and a parliament, but no democracy. When the ruling alliance itself makes no secret of the hybrid nature of the system, no political development, regardless of how unusual, should come as a surprise," remarked senior political commentator Mazhar Hussain.

Furthermore, the unprecedented influx of independent candidates into the ranks of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP)—despite the party failing to secure a single seat in the recent elections—has raised eyebrows. Analysts suggest this political windfall was orchestrated by the establishment as a strategic counterweight to the PPP, ensuring the ruling coalition functions within predefined boundaries.

Ahmad Bilal Mehboob, President of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), warned that the PML-N’s decision to occupy the opposition benches effectively silences genuine opposition voices, rendering the legislative oversight mechanism contentious and functionally obsolete. He noted that such "king’s party" dynamics historically enhance the stature of select factions within influential power circles, rather than reflecting the will of the electorate.

For comprehensive details regarding this developing political narrative, readers may consult the primary source document here.