ISLAMABAD, 21 October — The weak leadership and indecisiveness on the part of second-grade leadership of several political parties have obliged these loose cannons to look toward their real power centers. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has failed to nominate its candidate for the office of the prime minister, and empowered Shujaat Hussain to do the same after consultations with other parliamentary groups and parties.

It demonstrated that President Pervez Musharraf’s decision not to interfere in the political activities and influence the decisions of the political parties has left these "power-lusty" figures in totter. The Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians leadership took the "Dubai flight" to consult its real power center — Benazir Bhutto — to go this or that way. Makhddoom Amin Fahim and his colleagues remained indecisive to sit on the treasury or opposition benches, though it is always very comfortable to sit on the opposition benches thus having no responsibility or deeds which will account for by the president in the near future.

A top PML-Nawaz leader Nisar Ali Khan took the Jeddah flight on Saturday, though he is going only for performing Umrah. But it is a natural conclusion that he would be meeting exiled Sharif clan and discuss the situation that emerged following the Oct. 10 polls.

Now, it is to be seen where Shujaat would be going in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and meeting whom. One highly responsible official told The News daily newspaper that the politicians have been left escort-free and now the people The official analyzed: First, no single party can form the government; two, there are too many cooks which are out to spoil the broth; three, the power-lusty politicians do not want to accommodate others; four, the dearth of quality politicians who can be suited to the office of the prime minister; five, the heavily split mandate, and finally, the rigid behavior of the MMA leadership.

As the PML-Q, the party which bagged 77 seats in the elections but not in a position to form its own government but to go for coalition government, has failed to nominate its candidate for the prime ministerial office. "Empowering Shujaat Hussain to nominate the consensus candidate for the prime minister office almost means nothing, as he has to consult other parties and groups before finalizing the name of lucky one," said a senior PML-Q leader who is dealing with such matters as close aide to Shujaat.

The trend to seek guidance from their power centers by these politicians would further complicate the situation, as key party leaders living abroad would like to see political instability taking roots. The instability would help them to be remembered by the people plus their need to travel back if the long hands of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are put off from their heads.

Interestingly, constitutional and legal experts say that Zafarullah Khan Jamali of the PML-Q is not hit by the law which barred twice-elected chief ministers or prime ministers to be elected for the third term.

"Jamali can be a candidate, but the Leaguers are afraid to nominate him," said a PML-N leader. Similar is the case with Farooq Khan Leghari, as many believe that he would overshadow the others if elected as prime minister.

"The best way is to have a national government with all parties on board, provided the politicians agree to it," said a PPPP leader. The biggest hurdle in forming the national government is the PML-Q and its leadership. "These small-time politicians wanted to have the cake and eat it too, without offering it to any body else," he added.