PML-N Balochistan falling apart at the seams

Nawaz Sharif’s ‘anti-military narrative’ triggers exodus from the party

QUETTA:

Nawaz Sharif’s new hawkish narrative has opened a Pandora’s box. His recent tirade against the military brass earned him not only the slur of traitor from political rivals but also put some of his close party leaders ill at ease who are now started jumping ship.
Nowhere is this consternation more visible than Balochistan where senior PML-N politicians are ending their long association with the party. Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, the party’s provincial president, was the first to resign last week. On the heels of the announcement came the resignation of Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.
The PML-N sought to downplay Qadir’s resignation by attributing it to “personal reasons”. But Qadir on Saturday dispelled ambiguities about the reason for his parting of ways with the party.
“Whatever I am I owe it to [Pakistan] Army. We at the academy (Pakistan Military Academy) are taught to do or die, and never ask why… How can I be part of a group that spews out venom against its own armed forces! If I have to stand with someone I will stand with my chief,” he told a workers’ convention at the Metropolitan Hall in Quetta.
Attendees included former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, and a larger number of PML-N workers from across the province. He cited as another reason for his resignation the PML-N’s decision not to invite Nawab Zehri to the recent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Quetta.
Baloch accused the party leadership of betrayal on key issues concerning Balochistan on “countless occasions”. He recalled how Maryam Nawaz, “who now dreams of becoming prime minister or mimics Benazir Bhutto,” once asked him to arrange a meeting with female PML-N workers from Balochistan.
“After addressing the gathering, she refused to even shake hands with the workers who had travelled from remote areas of the province,” he said. “I was embarrassed because I had personally requested the female workers to attend the event.”
Baloch said THAT Nawab Zehri was among the pioneers of the PML-N in Balochistan who built the party at the grassroots level in the province and rendered countless sacrifices, including those of his family members, in the process. The PML-N had won 22 seats due to the efforts of the Zehri family, Baloch recalled but regretted that these efforts always remained unacknowledged.
“Today, PML-N representatives from all 33 districts of Balochistan are here to send out a message that they are not ready to remain associated with the party anymore,” according to Baloch.
Baloch recalled that following the 2013 elections the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and the National Party (NP) had nominated Nawab Sanaullah Zehri for the slot of chief minister with consensus. However, at the eleventh hour, Nawaz Sharif unilaterally nominated Dr Malik Baloch for the post. “We stood by the party despite this all”, he said.
At the workers’ convention, Nawab Zehri also announced parting of ways with the PML-N, accusing Nawaz Sharif of “betraying all those who stood by him through thick and thin”. He recalled that he had merged his party with the PML-N on Baloch’s request on only one condition: respect for the people of Balochistan. However, he regretted that Nawaz Sharif failed him.
“From today, Nawaz Sharif is our political opponent,” said Nawab Zehri, while announcing his resignation from the PML-N’s Central Executive Committee. “I’ll chalk out future course of action after consulting my friends and aides.”
Nawab Zehri mocked Nawaz Sharif for conveniently striking deals to get himself out of difficult situations. At the same time he heaped praise on the late PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for staying put in the face of imminent death.
“He [Bhutto] refused to bend and file a mercy petition to dictator Gen Ziaul Haq and preferred death,” Nawab Zehri said, while calling it the “true character of a real leader”.
“A deserter doesn’t deserve to be called leader,” he said, while referring to Nawaz Sharif who has been declared a “proclaimed offender” by courts after his refusal to return and serve out seven-year sentence awarded to him in a corruption case. “He should return to Pakistan and fight,” Nawab Zehri added.
Among others who announced resignation at the event included PML-N’s provincial Vice President Nawab Shambazai, Women Wing President Amna Baloch, Makran Division President Agha Shah Hussain and other leaders.