The reason behind the move against the PPP government is not the provincial government’s incompetence or the widespread allegations of corruption against party leaders; it is the desire for complete political control that is driving the campaign towards what some analysts describe as the establishment of a one-party system.Any move to destabilise the provincial government would be disastrous for the entire system, particularly at a time when the country faces multiple economic and political challenges. The silence of the administration has further complicated the issue. But comments against the amendment naturally raise questions about the establishment’s intention and fuel conspiracy theories. There may not be any linkage between them but it is mainly the responsibility of the government to dispel those concerns.While the fears of the PPP of the country’s being pushed towards a unitary form of government and of an attempt to abolish the 18th Amendment may be exaggerated, there is little doubt regarding the PTI government’s intention to take control of the country’s second-largest province. The young scion is seen by PPP supporters as their last hope of keeping alive the Bhutto legacy. The federal government’s clumsy move to impose a travel ban on all those named in the inquiry report, including chief minister Murad Ali Shah, and the PTI’s campaign for Mr Shah’s ouster have brought the swords out. That has given the party a heady sense of power. Being implicated in the financial scandal could affect his politics. Still, it will not be easy to manipulate the recently elected provincial assembly. The PTI’s rise to becoming the second-largest party in Sindh with its control in the urban areas has completely changed the political dynamics of the troubled province.

We have witnessed such a move in the province in the past too. The charges are indeed damning and could see the PPP leadership engaged in a prolonged legal and political battle that would constrain the party and the Sindh government. The chief justice’s admonition may have dampened the PTI charge, but the game is not over yet.There seems to be little possibility of the provincial government being overthrown or governor’s rule being imposed in the province.THE JIT report in the money-laundering case implicating top PPP leaders has generated a political storm. The politics of confrontation will not benefit either side. The PTI, which had no representation in parliament in that period, is obviously not that keen about the amendment. The statements from the federal ministers and the PTI’s provincial leadership China Faucet for kitchen Manufacturers are a clear manifestation of the power syndrome at play.Its electoral victory in Karachi, the country’s largest city and its financial and industrial lifeline, has put the party on a strong footing in provincial politics.Such a move has not worked in the past, nor will it work now. The “successful” political engineering of Karachi seems to have given impetus to the implementation of the plan at the provincial level.The military’s main concern is that a greater share of finances going to the provinces not only weakens the federal government’s control but is also one of the causes of the country’s growing fiscal problems.

The passage of the 18th Amendment through consensus among political parties across the board is seen with scepticism by the security establishment. The military’s reservation over the 18th Amendment came out strongly in remarks attributed to the army chief last year. That may never happen, but such moves could widen the political fault lines and have serious consequences for the integrity of the country.Although the veracity of the JIT report has yet to be substantiated, the financial scandal involving the Asif Ali Zardari family has found the PPP and Sindh government in deep water.Surely there are some questions about devolving power and the capacity of the provinces to handle the situation emanating from the transfer of responsibilities, but those issues can be gradually overcome. The PTI’s move is reminiscent of the politics of the 1990s when governments were installed or removed overnight, an exercise that involved forcing or bribing legislators to switch sides. The generals believe that greater financial and administrative autonomy for the provinces is detrimental to national integration and security. An attempt to bring about regime change in Sindh has exacerbated matters.Despite being politically handicapped because of living under the shadow of his wily father, Bilawal has made significant impact on parliamentary politics. Any such step could fuel an ethnic divide and strengthen extremist sub-nationalist forces.It is important to separate the accountability process from politics, but unfortunately, it is not happening.Bad governance and allegations of widespread corruption have not helped the PPP’s cause