"The time has come to say good bye to the PML-N," Mumtaz Bhutto, a PML-N leader, whose son Amir Bux Bhutto is adviser to the prime minister, told reporters in Badin on Wednesday. "The PML-N broke all its commitments for Sindh as it appeased the Pakistan Peoples Party's provincial government for the sake of reconciliation despite all its injustices and corruption."
He said that his Sindh National Front party, which he merged with the PLM-N in 2012, has called a central committee meeting in this regard after Eidul Azha. "The committee will discuss the issue of parting ways with the PML-N and the future course of action."
Bhutto was the chief minister of Sindh during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government. But he distanced himself from the PPP by the time Benazir Bhutto took the reins. He also served as caretaker chief minister of Sindh in 1996.
Earlier this month, PTI vice-chairperson Shah Mehmood Qureshi visited Bhutto in Larkana. It was believed that Qureshi invited him to join the PTI. When asked if he was considering the option, Bhutto told reporters that the committee's meeting will take a holistic view of the prevailing political situation.
However, Ayub Shar, a leader of the SNF, told The Express Tribune that the 100-member central committee, which had approved the merger with the PML-N, will take up the issue of joining the PTI. "We wanted an end to corruption and reconciliation politics with the PPP but the commitments made to us were not honoured."
Bhutto has been openly praising the PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek dharnas in Islamabad. Speaking to the media in Tando Muhammad Khan district on Wednesday, he said the dharnas have 'opened people's eyes'. "Nawaz Sharif caused great harm to the country by reconciling with Ali Baba and the 40 thieves - a reference he often repeats for Asif Zardari and his confidants in the PPP," said Bhutto.
The PTI sources claim that their leadership has also approached a number of other PML-N and even PPP leaders in Sindh. "After Eid, you will see many important personalities who will announce that they are joining the PTI," a PTI leader told The Express Tribune.
The PTI MNA
PML-Q Sindh's president Haleem Adil Shaikh, whom Qureshi met in Karachi last week, said he is consulting supporters and friends. "Shah Mehmood Qureshi has invited me. We also want to break the status quo. I am consulting friends and supporting communities across Sindh before making a decision," he told The Express Tribune.
A PTI MNA, who did not want to be named, said: "No one likes these leaders coming to a party which wants to give change to the people. Such politicians will either not join the PTI or if they did, they will not be able to go along with us."
He contended that the PTI's popularity will not be affected if the politicians with a history of defecting one or more political parties became part of it. "When Qureshi, Jehangir Tareen, Khursheed Kasuri and others were joining the PTI, there was much criticism that these figures will dent the party's popular support. But, the supporters watch only Imran Khan and have expectations from him."
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (6)
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I am a PTI supporter from larkana currently living in london.
Often the basis of selecting these bad sheeps is because of their past political background or affiliation with Shah Mehmood Qureshi. I am a great admirer of Mr Qureshi but his political acumen is not great within Sindh and Larkana for sure. Yes, he does have his religious followers, but apart from that he has no other following whatsoever in Sindh. And if he keeps on picking leaders there, then PTI will be limited to a few other similar religious cults. Similar to what PML F is under Pir Pagara. We all saw what happened in 2013 elections when he went into Tharparkar through PML F alliance which meant he fought elections as independent candidate!
His reputation otherwise is also very bad and if he joins, majority of the general public will stick to PPP as PPP candidates are generally considered at least comparatively better have a better past and loyalty history. In past there have been rumours of another lota, Altaf Unar joining and that too would be catastrophe, if anything a bigger one. All of these are PML Q and N league tainted people who have been discarded by these parties and have failed all the time. They change ships all the time and have no support outside their limited cult following which is shrinking by every day.
They will also limit PTI's revolutionary education policies as once implemented, all of their following will disappear within a few years. I hope PTI has learnt the lesson from Mr Hashmi episode and electables politics will no longer serve PTI. I think the message has to go to very top of PTI to stop this strategy which will never let PTI make a stronghold in sindh. Similar strategy in balochistan and south punjab will also fail. See how ZA Bhutto made his strength through sheer personal charisma and promising better returns than status quo using Roti, Kapra and Makaan. We could do the same through our Naya Pakistan slogan and we will be spolit for choice to select the best candidates rather than going after candidates.
@Roni Stop questioning about anybody's position in PTI. they r all "elected" unlike all other parties in Pakistan. P.S: We had cleared it earlier, clearing it again, those who will join PTI will join after endorsing our views, else they will leave soon as Javed Hashmi did.
PTI should consolidate all the epower it can to come into power, if PTI doesn't present laws in parliament as it has promised, than PTI should be kicked out just as this govt. .
PTI should avoid welcoming feudal lords as they come for their personal gains only which is not PTI path. Though they all have to follow IK policy or else see the door but still be careful.
You can already guess what will be the answer from PTI leadership: Qabool hai! Qabool hai!
Mumtaz thought PML-N would sweep the polls he was right so he joined them. Now he sees their influence in Sindh non existent and PTI is trying its best to make some inroads. Mumtaz meets SMQ and both lota, feudal and lifetime politicians now need each other. PTI is full of lota and one more is not going to make any difference. PTI claims to be new with new Pakistan ideas. Yet all old lota are inducted at the highest positions in the party. Why Hashmi and SMQ were given two top positions while ignoring lifelong workers and leaders like Fouzia? Now they condemn Hashmi after the fact? Shame on those parties who are actively looking for old rejected tainted lotas.