KARACHI/SUKKUR:
Sardars, waderas and pirs matter in elections in this part of the world. It is their clout, influence and following that helps a political party shine. And mindful of these traditional political patterns, the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have started wooing these power wielders.
The race gained momentum over the weekend, after Shah Mahmood Qureshi joined hands with Imran Khan, who went on a whirlwind tour of Larkana, Sukkur and Pir jo Goth, trying to lure bigwigs into the party fold.
After his announcement, in Ghotki on Sunday evening, Qureshi attended a dinner hosted in his honour by former Ghotki district nazim Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar. As news of this spread, so did the expectation that the Mahars of Ghotki would sway towards the PTI. There are certain quarters that are, however, claiming that the Mahar-PPP alliance is virtually a done deal. In this backdrop, more names were added to the list of PTI members. A relative of PPP federal minister Hazar Khan Bijarani, Iqbal Khan Bijarani, announced at a Sukkur press conference that he was joining the PTI. Rizwan Keehar’s younger brother Adnan Kehar of Larkana district, who was earlier affiliated with the Sindh National Front (SNF) of Mumtaz Bhutto, made a similar announcement during a visit to Naudero. Rizwan Keehar is Mumtaz Bhutto’s son-in-law.
Also to join the PTI during Imran Khan’s Pir jo Goth visit, was Syed Muhammad Rashid Shah, a disgraced grandson of PML-F chief Pir Pagara. The PTI called it a big success, but the PML-F just said that a group of criminals had found a safe haven in the PTI. “Pir Sahib has disowned his grandson because of his suspicious activities,” said PML-F leader and minister for Auqaf, Rafique Banbhan.
Another member of the party told The Express Tribune that cases were lodged against Rashid in Karachi and Khairpur Mirs, which had forced his father Raja Saen and grandfather Pir Pagara to disown him.
For his part, Rashid refuted these allegations and told The Express Tribune on the phone that he had joined the PTI because of its stand against corrupt influentials and landlords. “I have not joined the party under pressure from any group or state operator,” he said. “It is purely my own decision.”
PPP scrambles
On the other hand, PPP leaders such as Agha Siraj Durrani went about ferrying messages from President Asif Ali Zadari much to the same end.
Much of the action seemed to unfold when Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, MNA Faryal Talpur and Agha Siraj Durrani, along with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were in Naudero to attend the Chehlum of Begum Nusrat Bhutto.
Shah, Talpur and Durrani reportedly brainstormed Sunday night on how to appease angry PPP leaders and invite influentials in the area to join their party. On Monday, there were reports that Durrani met the PML-Q’s Altaf Unnar for an hour in order to convey Zardari’s message, which according to sources was an invitation to join the PPP. Sources claimed that Unar promised to consider the invitation.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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The present shift reflects hard earned politicial wisdom & deep understanding of the political dynamics of Pakistan. To correct the system, you have to a part of it first, The process of purgation will start as its 2nd phase................ Well done Mr. Khan, well done PTI- all political opponents are feeling the tremors of Tsenami which PTI is going to bring.
Lolz! Did any one hear Imran khan say that PTI is not a "Khandani" political party!!! Just go thru all the names and you will find the truth. How can any party fight against feudalism when are depending on there support for winning the elections.. A BIG QUESTION MARK ON PTI's CREDIBILITY!!!!!!
If PTI goal is to just get 25-30 NA seats like MQM and act as a pressure group or just ally then PTI not require these influencials but if PTI want to come in power and play a role to eradicate corruption then PTI has to think/sketch on broader canvas and need influencials. People living in big cities are unaware of rural politics.
Haha precisely, these people are someone's nephews and son-in-laws and grandchildren.... Nothing of their own. Muhammad Shah Rashdi is a known Badmash in Sindh & Karachi. PTI is just attracting disgraced PMLQ and poliical wilderness candidates with money but no public support, except Qureshi and maybe Khattak. All those 24+ Q League legislators were corrupt and are opportunists, so is the majority of waderas of Sindh. PTI will gain nothing from these, they will just end up creating a armed forward=bloc of Sardars in the party, atleast at Sindh level, who will just manipulate the party, and no constructive policy makers will come from this crop of Feudal 'elites'. Muhammad Shah Rashdi quit school in 8th grade, his degree is a fake and a known fake.
What is the difference amon PPP, PML-N and PTI, none! Another King's Party in the formation with all the landlords, pirs, vedaras and lotas. Their past is immaterial as long as they are okeyed by Imran Khan. PTI would be APML without Mush.