Nisar’s Karachi visit: PML-N, PML-F keen to forge anti-PPP alliance

A meeting was held at the Governor House here between leaders of the PML-N and PML-F

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) decided to form an alliance in Sindh on Friday in a bid to counter the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) decision to launch ‘Go Nawaz Go’ movement.

A meeting was held at the Governor House here between leaders of the PML-N and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) (coalition partners in the federal government).

The meeting, which was chaired by federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, evolved a consensus to forge an alliance of like-minded parties.



“You can call it an election alliance too,” a senior PML-N leader said, adding that the meeting also decided to approach other parties, including Sindhi nationalists, besides trying to bring disgruntled leaders of both PML-N and PML-F back into the folds of either parties.

Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair also attended the meeting.

Senator Nehal Hashmi, Babu Sarwar Jatoi, Aijaz Shah Sheerazi, Ameer Hyder Shah Sheerazi, Raheela Mangi, Khehal Das Kohistani and Shah Mohammad Shah represented PML-N in the meeting. Meanwhile, federal minister Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi, Muzaffar Shah, MNA Ghous Bux Mahar, MPAs Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Nusrat Seher Abbasi and Sheharyar Mahar represented the PML-F.



During the meeting, which was followed by dinner, PML-F leaders briefed the federal interior minister about political victimisation at the hands of PPP and presented facts and figures about alleged rigging in by-election in Sanghar from where Jam Madad Ali of PPP won the seat defeating PML-F’s candidate Jam Nafees.

“We discussed PPP’s four-year performance and governance in Sindh … We also decided to form a committee, comprising leaders of both parties, to approach electable candidates forming an anti-PPP alliance,” a senior PML N leader said.

According to him, Chaudhry Nisar assured that PML-N leaders, including federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, would hold follow-up meetings and visit Sindh soon.



“PPP has ruined Sindh and plundered its funds. It is now time to oust the PPP,” another PML-F leader said, adding that other parties, including MQM and other independent groups and individuals would be approached in this regard.

Sources privy to the meeting said that MQM had already assured that it would join the anti-PPP alliance.

PML-N’s provincial chief Babu Sarwar Jatoi told The Express Tribune that PPP’s days were numbered, adding that the PML N would form the next government in Sindh.

Terming the entire exercise futile, PPP leaders said that it would take more than a century for the prime minister and his coalition partners to defeat the PPP in Sindh. “They are living in a fool’s paradise. Such meetings and alliances are just for media consumption. It will not make any difference,” president of PPP’s Sindh chapter Nisar Khuhro said, adding that dozens of PML-N and PML-F leaders had quit their parties and joined PPP because of the failure of both the parties.



Earlier, Governor Mohammad Zubair and Chaudhry Nisar held a meeting.

Sources in the Governor House said that issues relating to the law and order, especially Rangers’ powers, were discussed.

“Both reiterated their commitment to continue the ongoing Karachi operation,” the spokesperson for Governor House said, adding that the deployment of Rangers was mandatory in Karachi for containing the law and order situation.

Earlier, the federal minister inaugurated NADRA’s mega centers at DHA and Nazimabad and visited the Coast Guard headquarters.



Addressing a gathering at the Coast Guard headquarters, Chaudhry Nisar said that the federal government was focusing on capacity-building of all security forces to avert any untoward incident.

Praising the performance of the Coast Guard personnel, he said that their services were essential in protecting the maritime borders and thwarting all attempts at smuggling.

Later, the DG of Coast Guard briefed the interior minister about his organisation’s operations.