With PTI’s rise, Clean Party’s fate hangs in balance

Jehang­ir Tareen held a number of meetin­gs with variou­s leader­s to woo them to his side but was unable to...


Zahid Gishkori November 20, 2011

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)

Fahd Sahibzada | 12 years ago | Reply I had hopes with PTI but disapponted that how will they erradicate status quo by having a chunck of feudals and those politicians who are not adjusted in their own party. Moreover, accepting FAKE Degree holder Faiz Tamman was surprise, i think Imran Khan doesn't count moral corruption in his agenda.
Ammar Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Listen everyone and listen clearly, the Legharis are not bad.I challenge anyone to prove that Awais or Jamal Leghari did corruption with proper factual documentation.Also Awais leghari and jamal leghari are not corrupt and as PTI has ABSOLUTELY no influence in Dera Ghazi Khan, they will have no gain by joining PTI.Also as Mr Qaisani called Legharis feaudals, all i can say is that he is jealous who is agitated and not fond of his own life and has absolutely nothing to do in it. The Legharis almost gave all of thier land in the previous land reforms for this country and they are going to join PTI for pakistan.
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