Reconciliation: Pagara asks forward bloc to reconcile with PML-Q

PML-F chief urges Bilawal Bhutto to join the unified Muslim League "if he wants to be a real politician".

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Chief Pir Pagara has said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should also join the unified Muslim League if he wants to be a real politician.

“We will nominate Bilawal as general secretary of the unified party, when he joins us,” he said.

Speaking to the media after his meeting with a delegation of the PML-Like minded, he said that various factions of the Muslim League are ready to merge to form a united Muslim League and, in this connection, a meeting will be convened in Lahore on January 30. Pagara said that after holding the Lahore meeting, the task will be given to different political leaders to organise the party at provincial as well as district levels. “We will heartily welcome all leagues and our doors are open for them to join the united Muslim League,” he said.

Regarding the factions led by Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf, Paraga said that Sharif has no “will” to make any decision while Musharraf’s party “is not Muslim League, it is Fauj League”.

Responding to a question, he said that they have always supported the army and still extend their unconditional support to the forces, but unfortunately the army is not supporting them.

Sources in the party said that Pir Pagara also asked the visiting delegation, led by Senator Saleem Saifullah and party secretary Humayun Akhtar, to shun their differences with the leaders of the PML-Quaid, especially the Chaudhary brothers.

“We have to work together. I want to see you people come back, hand-in-hand with Chaudhary Shujaat [Hussain],” sources quoted Pir Pagara as saying. Sources said that the delegates gave him a positive response.

Sources said that Pir Pagara assured the delegation that he will chair the Lahore meeting and all reservations between different factions will be resolved.

Saifullah told reporters that they also support army intervention to control the law and order situation in Karachi. “I don’t know why people are opposing the constitutional role of the army to bring peace in Karachi, which is the economic hub of the country,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2011.