PDM ‘no more’ after end of its tenure

Sanaullah says Maryam’s position regarding turncoats a political statement

LAHORE:

PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that the PDM was an anti-government alliance that later transformed into a ruling alliance, a coalition government, and it was never an electoral one so with the completion of their government’s term, that alliance (PDM) was no more.

Addressing a news conference here, the former security czar said the PML-N had yet to take its decision regarding forming any alliance with any other party or seat adjustments.

Opinion remained divided on the subject of election alliance and regarding who the party should or should not form an alliance with, he added.

When asked again regarding the demise of the PDM, he carefully rephrased his position to claim that the PDM was not an election alliance.

It is pertinent to note that the other major play in the PDM, the JUI-F, however, did not see the PDM as a thing of the past, though they too agreed that the PDM, in theory, was not an election alliance, while the decision regarding any alliance or seat adjustment, according to them was yet to be taken.

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To a question regarding any party decision to allot tickets to those who had recently joined the party, he said that the leaders whom the party had recently welcomed into its folds had unconditionally expressed their trust and faith in Nawaz Sharif.

He said the party’s committed leaders who were strong in their constituencies would be given priority and where the party’s old guards were weak, these electables would be accommodated. “The party is contesting elections to win.”

Sanaullah again showered praises on electables, referring to them as individuals who held the trust and affection of their constituents.

To a question regarding the party’s position on turncoats (a term the party had used for electables when they were joining the PTI), and when reminded that the party SVP had once opined that “lotay ki jaga bathroom main hoti ha” (place of turncoats was in lavatory), the PML-N leader said it was a political statement, reminding that the statement was exchanged between PML-N and PPP President Asif Ali Zardari and the fact that both the parties remained in coalition government for 16 months.

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In response to questions regarding PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sanaullah said that Bilawal’s criticism was motivated by aspirations to find some traction in Punjab.

He said as they wanted to contest elections in Punjab, they would have to build an anti-PML-N narrative. He said that they would not reply to Bilawal’s criticism in the same token, as they wanted to reduce bitterness in politics. “Post-election, all would have to work together to take the country out of crises,” he added.

To another question regarding the infamous choreographed interview of the former first lady’s first husband, Khawar Maneka, by the anchor of a seemingly PML-N leaning channel, he said that the focus should not be on how it was done, voluntary or otherwise, the focus should be on what he had said.

To another question, if they were apprehensive of another stand-off between Nawaz Sharif and the establishment after coming to power, he said democracy had progressed in Pakistan and that in the recent past, despite the worst situations, democracy remained on track.