Raiwind march: PML-N’s politics of back scratching

Ruling party reaching out to PTI’s dissident groups in Punjab and K-P

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has been trying to take advantage of fissures and weaknesses within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The move is aimed at forestalling the momentum of the PTI ahead of its September 30 Raiwind march.

In this context, PML-N leaders have been reaching out to the PTI’s dissident groups in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and trying to woo them. This is being done as part of its strategy to counter the march – and making backdoor contacts with dissident leaders forms a major part of it.

Background discussions with PML-N and PTI leaders indicate that the ruling party’s leadership in Punjab and K-P have been actively engaged in contacting those PTI leaders who have either officially or unofficially left the party over policy disagreements or other reasons.

PML-N sources believe PTI’s ‘ideological’ members, who have been sidelined on one pretext or the other including former additional secretary general Saifullah Niazi, Justice (r) Wajeehuddin, Tasnim Noorani and others, still hold “a sound yet silent following” within the PTI ranks.

Reportedly, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and provincial government spokesman Zaeem Qadri are said to have held ‘low-key’ meetings with a few individuals regarded as close to the dissident lot. However, Rana Sanaullah did not offer a definite response.

“There are saner elements in the PTI that are fed up with the party leadership’s follies. If some groups intend to support us by realising their mistakes of the past, it is an expression of confidence reposed in the PML-N leadership,” he told The Express Tribune.

In K-P, dissident leaders mainly include Samad Mursaleen and former minister Ziaullah Afridi.

Things are not different in Hazara Division, PTI’s stronghold, either. Of the 56-member town (tehsil) council in Haripur, PTI leaders have formed a 40-member forward bloc that also includes opposition members against the policies of PTI’s Tehsil Nazim Tariq Khan and Deputy Nazim Ahsan Shah. Named as ‘Musawaat Group’ the dissident group is preparing to move a no-confidence motion against the nazim and deputy nazim.

Abbottabad is no different either. Sardar Sher Bahdur Khan, the district nazim and Deputy District Nazim Shaukat Tanoli got elected last year with the formation of a forward bloc he created after being denied ticket by the PTI for the district nazim election. The forward bloc defeated PTI candidates Ali Khan Jadoon and Sardar Waqar Nabi to grab the district nazim and deputy nazim slots. The K-P government has since stopped the provision of funds to Sher Bahadur’s district government and has moved court to have him disqualified. The matter is still pending.

Reports have surfaced that the district nazim was approached by the PML-N K-P leadership, seeking his support against the Raiwind march. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Abbasi, who also hails from Abbottabad, allegedly patronised this move.

However, Sardar Sher Bahadur denied these reports. “Neither have I been approached by the PML-N nor by the PTI leadership. If and when the PTI leadership asks me to join the march, I would offer my services and lead an endless delegation to Raiwind. But if the party doesn’t need my support, they must be having better plans then.”

Sardar Idrees, PTI’s provincial lawmaker argued otherwise. “The rulers at the centre are shaken to the hilt, seeing PTI’s unfolding strategy and full-swing preparations for the Raiwind march.

Meanwhile, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said here on Wednesday that if protesting parties got no success through the march on Raiwind, they could start marching towards Jati Umra. Talking to the media after meeting with the PTI leaders, Sheikh Rashid said his party would continue supporting PTI Chairman Imran Khan because he had waged a war against corruption.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2016.