ISLAMABAD:
A party of ‘clean’ politicians, led by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MNA Jehangir Tareen, looks to be a ‘non-starter’ as a two-day meeting held in Islamabad between its selected leaders remained inconclusive, insiders said.
The PML-F leader, who announced to launch his party in September this year, was unable to ‘woo’ selected electable candidates, following Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan’s categorical statement that his party was yet to decide about new alliances with political parties.
Tareen’s idea to launch a new party aimed to provide an alternative to conventional political parties in the next general elections.
“The next party meeting is uncertain because most of the Clean Party leaders want to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,” said a seasoned politician, who came from Rahim Yar Khan to attend the meeting.
Tareen held a number of meetings with various leaders, including Ishaq Khan Khakwani, to woo them to his side but was unable to succeed, he explained.
“Tareen and Khakwani want an alliance with the PTI, while others wanted join the party (PTI),” he added.
Alliance with PTI?
Tareen held meetings with selected politicians of southern Punjab in Islamabad to discuss possible avenues for launching a party as well as an alliance with political parties, especially with the PTI, insiders said.
“We have yet to take a decision about a new party,” Khakwani told The Express Tribune.
“The PTI welcomes all clean politicians except two leaders from Dera Ghazi Khan,” a senior worker of the PTI told The Express Tribune, without disclosing any names. “Khan Sahib has already conveyed his concerns to Tareen.”
Last Sunday, PTI’s central executive committee decided to invite electable candidates to join the party rather than forming a political alliance with like-minded parties, according to PTI Central Information Secretary Omar Sarfraz Cheema.
“PTI is vying to embrace new electable candidates across party lines,” he said.
Electable candidates
Meanwhile, MNA Awais Khan Leghari, Omer Ayub Khan and Sikandar Bosan, who were generally considered to be close to Tareen, are looking to either join the PTI, the Pakistan Muslim League-N or the Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
Although Bosan has a soft corner for PTI, he could rejoin the PML-N. The Leghari brothers, who are still indecisive, will prefer to continue their affiliation with the PML-Q, an insider predicted.
“The Clean Party appears to be a non-starter because none of its leaders have a charismatic personality,” he added.
A new party as a pressure group in political arena can only be launched on behest of establishment, he told The Express Tribune while choosing to remain anonymous.
PPP MNA Azeem Daultana, from Vehari said, “Everyone is going to wait and see the politics in southern Punjab.”
All political players, namely Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Sikandar Bosan, Awais Leghari, Senator Jamal Leghari and many other electable candidates are looking for a new political platform, which may guarantee them a seat from their constituencies, he explained.
The electable candidates, who appear to be unhappy with their parties’ leadership, are thinking to join hands with the PTI.
However, before making a formal announcement they are keeping their cards open, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2011.
COMMENTS (10)
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Listen mr Qaisani and True , this whole article is completely wrong. Imran Khan himself is desperate to get the support of the Legharis and by the who are u to decide who is corrupt and who is not I challenge u not in your stupid opinion but fact to produce a single corruption case against awais leghari or jamal leghari.You people yourself voted zardari and nawaz sharif and u now say they r bad.How can u do that?Its not fair! Also u people called legharis feaudals.Listen they gave more than their required land to the government during the land reforms. Also the legharis dont need PTI to become MNA's!!! PTI has absolutely no power in thier constituency's, thus they can even stand independantly and win.I hope i have clearified all these issues and that u have an open mind to understand.
Good decision Imran Khan.No need to take Legharis in PTI.They are feudals who have kept people their slaves for centuries.Let them die politically as they cannot join PPP or PMLN now.
PMLN is an old worn-out house. So is PPP. The only "clean" party is PTI.
@True: oh, i guess you didn't know that PTI has established a Dry Cleaning Factory at rawalpndi for those who were corrupt in the past. so i am sure they will get themselves 'cleaned' before they join 'PTI'.
Imran needs electables now and later the electables would need him and at that time, they won't be able to point many scores. Politicians need to abandon the typical politics and come out of their shell to fight corruption and lawlessness for the betterment of nation. It is time to be a hero, or a zero.
When you label your party as the ' Clean Party ' you are asking for trouble from the word go. Today the people are angry, disillusioned, highly sceptical and frustrated. Another slogan that reeks of hypocrisy certainly will not work. People want results not rhetoric.
Just join PTI Mr Tareen. Not much time left. You want change than thats the only available option.
I doubt whether the likes of Awais, Jamal and Akmal Leghari can join PTI. They will never pass the corruption-free reputation required by PTI. Their corruption is common knowledge amongst Pakistanis.