New alliances: For the PML-N, it’s open season on negotiations
PML-N in talks with MQM; optimistic about a ‘grand opposition alliance’.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has set its political dealings in high-gear, and is negotiating on various political fronts.
The PML-N and PML-Q’s breakaway faction PML-like minded are all set for a political embrace as the PML-N steps up its campaign to retain its dominant position in Punjab.
Both PML-N and the like-minded leaders have confirmed that the two parties could finalise an alliance as early as the beginning of September, soon after Eid.
In addition, the PML-N claims it has received a positive response from the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and has also begun talks with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The like-minded group, led by former federal ministers Humayun Akhtar, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Salim Saifullah, has a formidable strength of five senators plus four more breakaway PML senators in Senate, while seven to 10 MNAs support the group in the National Assembly.
“We’re closely cooperating with the PML-N in Senate and the recent elections of a leader of the opposition in Senate are a testimony to that,” Like-minded leader Salim Saifullah Khan told The Express Tribune from London.
“We agree with the PML-N on a minimum possible agenda – to get rid of the Zardari-led government and get the country back on track,” Saifullah added.
After Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) joined the ruling coalition with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a significant faction within the party – both in Punjab and at the federal level – broke into a pro-PML-N faction that referred to itself as the ‘Likeminded group’.
The Shahbaz government in Punjab also boasts of the strength of around 47 like-minded MPAs who are supporting the PML-N in Punjab.
PML-like-minded leader Haroon Akhtar confirmed talks of a possible alliance and said that although a formal electoral alliance is a bit far-fetched, the general understanding on issues and strategies in the national assembly and Punjab assembly can act as a foundation for both parties to forge a formal alliance on.
“The matter has been referred to a committee, which will decide the modalities of the alliance. There are matters which need attention, such as the electoral seat adjustments, which will be decided after Ramazan by the committee,” said Akhtar.
“In the Senate, four senators who broke away recently from PML[Q] have also joined hands with us and in the National Assembly there are three MNAs, who, although have not separated publicly, are supporting us,” said Akhtar.
Following these political developments, there is a sense of accomplishment and triumph in the PML-N.
“We are close to sealing a deal with the like-minded. There are no contentious issues to solve, just modalities, which would be finalised very soon,” said Senator Pervez Rashid. “We have no reservations over the MQM and JI joining us in this struggle against the present PPP-led government,” he added.
The PML-N’s eponymous chief Nawaz Sharif also said that his party’s reservations against any other political party of the opposition will not hamper the formation of a grand alliance if all other opposition parties got together on a minimum agenda of ‘getting rid’ of the government – a hint towards a possible opposition alliance with the MQM.
Senator Rashid said that they have received “good vibes” from the JI and have started talks with the MQM. “So there are clear chances of a grand alliance emerging from the opposition,” said Rashid.
However, he said that his party does not plan to hold talks with Tehrik-e-Insaf at the moment.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2011.