Parties eye polls in wake of Zardari health rumours

Karachi: A spate of public rallies by political parties in different cities and provinces of Pakistan makes many believe the election fever might take over the nation ahead of schedule, analysts said on Thursday.

Imran Khan, a cricketer turned politician who chairs the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Justice Party) was lately aspiring for a rally in Karachi, the largest city of the country, after he held big rallies in Lahore and Multan.

The permission for a rally was keenly awaited by the party leaders as they were eyeing December 25, the birth day of the founding father of the nation, for the event.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM, the powerful party of urban Sindh, which is trying to expand its jurisdiction to other parts of the country in upcoming elections, has announced the holding of a big rally in Multan, a politically vital city in southern Punjab. They plan to hold the rally on December 23, two days ahead of Khan's rally in Karachi.

"I hope to announce some important things regarding Multan and southern Punjab people," said Altaf Hussain, the MQM leader, who is living in exile in London for about 19 years.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif, former premier whose political stronghold is the Punjab province, has visited the southern Sindh province several times to address public rallies, canvassing votes in the next elections.

"Yes, it seems that the political parties are gearing up now for an early election," professor Tauseef Ahmad said.

Ahmad is a political analyst and head of the mass communication department at Federal Urdu University.

The increase in political activity comes in the wake of rumours of President Asif Ali Zardari's illness and his treatment in the UAE which fanned political uncertainty in the country.

Strategy

"The political parties believe that the government itself is uncertain about the president's health and they are not clear about their future strategy," said Qaiser Mahmoud, a political analyst and senior journalist.

Zardari was admitted to a hospital in Dubai on December 6 with a heart ailment.

The president's illness and his sudden trip abroad have triggered rumours and media reports that the 56-year-old leader could be preparing to resign, or even be ousted in a military coup.

These rumours have been denied by officials, who say he will remain president of the nuclear-armed and politically unstable nation.

"Such rumours and uncertainty is also making political parties believe that elections are not far away," Ahmad said.