In political scramble, Nawaz hopes to rake in Sindh’s finest
Around 25 seasoned politicians are expected to join PML-N during sojourn in Sindh.
LAHORE:
Political loyalties are up for grabs and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not staying put.
The party has finalised a list of about 25 seasoned politicians from Sindh who are expected to join PML-N during party chief Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the province scheduled for December 10, sources told The Express Tribune.
According to party sources, out of a list of 25, a few politicians will join PML-N during Nawaz’s visit to Larkana while the rest are expected to join after a meeting with Nawaz in Karachi, scheduled for December 15.
Of prominent political families, the Mahars, Sherazis, Arbabs, Mazaris and Jatois have finalised their terms for joining the PML-N, sources said, adding that Shah Hussain Shah Sherazi from Thatta, Ali Mohammad Mahar and Arbab Ghulam Rahim from Ghotki, Saleem Jan Mazari, Shaukat Shah and Manzoor will join PML-N during Nawaz’s visit to Karachi.
Nawaz’s visit to Karachi is scheduled exclusively for negotiating with these families and to attend subsequent announcement ceremonies, sources added.
The PML-N chief is also expected to hold intense negotiations with Altaf Unar and former chief minister Sindh Liaquat Jatoi, in Karachi. If their reservations are addressed, sources say, they could announce their decision to join the PML-N as well.
Trip itinerary
According to Nawaz’s political secretary Dr Asif Kirmani, the PML-N chief will land on the Naudero helipad on December 10 and will be escorted to the venue of public gathering in Larkana. Nawaz will subsequently offer Fateha at former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s mausoleum, before returning to Lahore.
Nawaz’s Karachi visit, scheduled for December 15, was confirmed by other senior party leaders and former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain.
While Hussain confirmed that a list of seasoned politicians expected to join the party exists, he refused to divulge their names or share any details.
Nawaz has visited Sindh five times previously, including trips to Badin, Benazirabad, Sanghar, Sukkur and Khairpur during recent floods.
Larkana gathering
The party has dispatched Deputy Speaker Punjab Rana Mashhood to finalise the public gathering in Larkana and meet with Sindhi nationalists. Since this would be PML-N’s first-ever public gathering in Larkana, the party wants to restrict attendance to PML-N workers only, Mashhood said while talking to The Express Tribune.
He added that he has met with a host of nationalist leaders including Mumtaz and Ghinwa Bhutto, Jalal Mehmood Shah and Dr Qadir Magsi, to discuss strategies for the next general elections.
Mashhood said that around 70,000 people are expected to attend the PML-N rally in Larkana. The party intends to demonstrate to the people of Sindh that Larkana is not just a hub for the Pakistan Peoples Party, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.
Political loyalties are up for grabs and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is not staying put.
The party has finalised a list of about 25 seasoned politicians from Sindh who are expected to join PML-N during party chief Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the province scheduled for December 10, sources told The Express Tribune.
According to party sources, out of a list of 25, a few politicians will join PML-N during Nawaz’s visit to Larkana while the rest are expected to join after a meeting with Nawaz in Karachi, scheduled for December 15.
Of prominent political families, the Mahars, Sherazis, Arbabs, Mazaris and Jatois have finalised their terms for joining the PML-N, sources said, adding that Shah Hussain Shah Sherazi from Thatta, Ali Mohammad Mahar and Arbab Ghulam Rahim from Ghotki, Saleem Jan Mazari, Shaukat Shah and Manzoor will join PML-N during Nawaz’s visit to Karachi.
Nawaz’s visit to Karachi is scheduled exclusively for negotiating with these families and to attend subsequent announcement ceremonies, sources added.
The PML-N chief is also expected to hold intense negotiations with Altaf Unar and former chief minister Sindh Liaquat Jatoi, in Karachi. If their reservations are addressed, sources say, they could announce their decision to join the PML-N as well.
Trip itinerary
According to Nawaz’s political secretary Dr Asif Kirmani, the PML-N chief will land on the Naudero helipad on December 10 and will be escorted to the venue of public gathering in Larkana. Nawaz will subsequently offer Fateha at former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s mausoleum, before returning to Lahore.
Nawaz’s Karachi visit, scheduled for December 15, was confirmed by other senior party leaders and former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain.
While Hussain confirmed that a list of seasoned politicians expected to join the party exists, he refused to divulge their names or share any details.
Nawaz has visited Sindh five times previously, including trips to Badin, Benazirabad, Sanghar, Sukkur and Khairpur during recent floods.
Larkana gathering
The party has dispatched Deputy Speaker Punjab Rana Mashhood to finalise the public gathering in Larkana and meet with Sindhi nationalists. Since this would be PML-N’s first-ever public gathering in Larkana, the party wants to restrict attendance to PML-N workers only, Mashhood said while talking to The Express Tribune.
He added that he has met with a host of nationalist leaders including Mumtaz and Ghinwa Bhutto, Jalal Mehmood Shah and Dr Qadir Magsi, to discuss strategies for the next general elections.
Mashhood said that around 70,000 people are expected to attend the PML-N rally in Larkana. The party intends to demonstrate to the people of Sindh that Larkana is not just a hub for the Pakistan Peoples Party, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.