PML-N shoots down Muslim League reunification talk

Rana Sanaullah says party will not come together with ‘pro-establishment’ factions

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has refused to be part of any proposed alliance between all Muslim League factions, dealing a blow to proponents of unifying all parties using the Muslim League name.

According to sources privy to developments, the idea of an alliance that leading to possible reunification has resurfaced among Muslim League parties some believe to be ‘pro-establishment’, such as PML-Quaid, PML-Functional and Awami Muslim League (AML). They claim the proposal has even caught the attention certain PML-N members who too are seen as close to the establishment.

“A unified Muslim League can make a stronger bid for power in the 2023 general elections,” one insider said. “If the PML-N agrees, it could use PML-Q to bolster its influence in Punjab and PML-F to increase its presence in Sindh,” he insisted. “A reunification could prop Muslim League as a ‘national party’ and remove any obstacles in the way being a real contender in the next elections.”

PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, however, shot down the possibility of allying with other Muslim League factions. “We have not even spared a thought on this. This topic has not been discussed at any level within our party,” he maintained. “This is an old dream of the establishment and it will never come true.”

The PML-N leader also rubbished suggestions of a PML-N sans Nawaz Sharif. “Such efforts are destined to fail,” he said. “The vote bank that belongs to PML-N belongs to Nawaz Sharif.”

Asked what he thought of a Muslim League alliance without PML-N, Sanaullah said his party had no qualms. “They can come together if they like. We neither recognise them as Muslim League nor do we see them as a threat,” he said.

PML-N Punjab chief, however, had a word of caution for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. “This alliance or reunification talk is a message to Imran Khan and company. They are no longer needed and efforts are on to find their replacement,” he said.

On the other hand, PML-F Secretary General Muhammad Ali Durrani said consensus of the security and economic challenges plaguing Pakistan would only be possible through a national party. “If the Muslim League factions ally with each other, they would easily form a strong national party,” he said. On being perceived as a ‘pro-establishment’ party, Durrani said, “the Muslim League has been always been pro-Pakistan.”

The idea of bringing parties operation under the Muslim League is not a new one. According to sources, between 2008 and 2013, Nawaz Sharif and PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had almost agreed to form an alliance but the move fell through following concerns raised by Shahbaz Sharif Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2020.