PML-N quietly shelves internal probe against ‘turncoats’

Insiders say risk of further divisions in ranks was too great

ISLAMABAD: Fearing a further split in its ranks, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz has quietly shelved plans to internally probe alleged horse-trading in the Senate elections and punish anyone that broke ranks.

Immediately after the Senate elections on March 2, the PML-N joined other parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to demand a probe into alleged horse-trading ‘of unprecedented level’ in the Senate elections.

Upset over Chaudhry Sarwar’s surprise victory in the Senate elections from Punjab, the hub of N-League’s political support base, new PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif was said to have reprimanded top provincial leaders for their failure to ‘manage’ the elections and had ordered an internal probe to identify any turncoats that may have voted for Sarwar.



Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also spoke strongly against the defectors and even called for a ‘jihad’ against horse-trading.

In addition, PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had also slammed alleged horse-trading in the upper house polls saying PML-N was ready to cooperate with other political parties against trading of loyalties in upper house polls and demanded a through probe into the matter.

Sources in PML-N said that on Sharif’s directions, Shehbaz had also ordered the PML-N’s provincial chapter in Balochistan to probe foul play in the Senate polls.

Till date, however, no headway has been made in this regard as PML-N leadership has silently discarded plans to go after disloyal members.

“It’s easier said than done,” said a PML-N leader from Punjab.

“Some statements have political dimensions rather than practical ones,” he said of the now-shelved housecleaning plan.

The PML-N is already facing serious challenges—following Balochistan Assembly debacle and unexpected defeat in chairman, deputy chairman Senate elections and taking steps against horse-trading would add to uncertainty and fuel internal differences, the insider said.

Punjab’s Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Election Commission of Pakistan is already investigating reports of horse-trading in the Senate elections. “The matter is under ECP’s review,” he told The Express Tribune.

In a previous conversation, Sanaullah denied that Shehbaz ordered any internal probe in connection with Chaudhry Sarwar’s win.
“This could be figment of someone’s imagination, but it’s far from reality.”

Given that Senate elections are held through secret ballot, it becomes very difficult to track the defecting members. “There isn’t much our party command can do about. That the Senate polls are held through secret ballot leaves no possibility to determine who voted for whom — and even, if, let’s assume, the ‘culprits’ are traced, they can be expelled from the party which would not affect their membership of the Punjab Assembly,” the source said. In light of the existing constitutional and electoral provisions, the defection clause is not applicable to any lawmaker who votes for anyone outside his/her party policy in the Senate elections.

In the 371-member strong Punjab Assembly, PML-N has 310 seats compared to 30 seats of PTI.

Sarwar got 44 votes in the Senate poll that implies that he received some 14 votes more than his party’s total strength in the provincial assembly. This extra chunk of support came either from the government or opposition lawmakers.



The development has put to test the leadership of Shehbaz who recently took the party’s reins.

Just two days before the Senate elections, Shehbaz summoned the provincial lawmakers reportedly to take ‘loyalty pledge’— that they would not resort to defection and make sure that the PML-N would secure all 12 seats up for grab.

But following Sarwar’s victory in the Senate elections, Shehbaz convened an internal party huddle to express his annoyance with the party’s provincial lawmakers who were tasked to ‘take care of’ the Senate polls under the command of Sanaullah and PML-N Punjab Secretary General Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Both Sanaullah and Sarwar assured Shehbaz that the party lawmakers who possibly supported Sarwar in securing the seat of the upper house would be traced and proceeded against, according to reliable N-Leaguers.