‘Tsunami’ intensifies: PTI bags Hashmi, eyes more bigwigs

Party woos defectors from across the political spectrum.

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:

The surging Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s latest show of strength, in Karachi today, will be performed on the back of an aggressive bagging spree, which has seen it woo politicians from across the political spectrum.

For political observers caught off-guard by former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Javed Hashmi switching ships to PTI on Saturday, more surprises may be in store, not just from PML-N, but also from PML-Quaid (PML-Q), and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

With Hashmi on the PTI bandwagon, the PML-N has lost at least one more MNA – his daughter, Memona Hashmi. Other politicians likely to follow suit, sources say, include, Tehmina Daultana, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Rohail Asghar and Raja Nadir Pervez. Most troubling for the PML-N is the possible defection of one of their only Sindh stalwarts – Ghouse Ali Shah.

The expected defections have pushed the PML-N leadership into action; sources say the party has started approaching lawmakers, 12 in all, who are likely to defect to the PTI.

The party’s negotiating team has managed to hold them back for now, but may not be able to retain them for long, sources added.

Key among possible defectors, they say, is Saad Rafique.

Rafique, who has the support of several national and provincial lawmakers, purportedly sent Hashmi to PTI first to carve a ‘good position’ for him.  He would jump ship closer to the next elections, sources add.

PML-N’s deputy general secretary Ahsan Iqbal, however, ruled out Rafique joining the PTI.

Imran had already approached Rafique but he refused, Iqbal said. He hoped that more PML-N members would not defect but added, cautiously, that there could be no certainty in politics.

The other party likely to lose most from PTI’s rise is the already-fragmented PML-Q.

Sources name Liaquat Jatoi, Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Ghouse Buksh Mehar from Sindh, and former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali from Balochistan, as possible defectors.

Meanwhile, the party’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa president Amir Muqam is said to be uncomfortable with the Chaudhrys of Gujraat. Sources in PML-Q ruled out his immediate switching over, but said he would definitely abandon the Chaudhrys’ camp if they continued their coalition with the PPP.

The ruling PPP, which has already lost one of its heavyweights – Shah Mehmood Qureshi – Is likely to suffer at the hands of PTI in its stronghold Sindh.

A dissent group of PPP leaders from Sindh, including Muzaffar Ali Shah, the Talpurs and a prominent Makhdoom of Sindh, are expected to join the party in the coming days, PTI sources said.

Following Hashmi’s departure, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif has decided to immediately complete the provincial reorganisation of the party and has set a two-week deadline for the task.

The party had completed election to its central office slots but had postponed the provincial elections due to internal differences.

Meanwhile, the PML-N has nominated former mayor of Multan, Sheikh Tariq Rashid, as Hashmi’s contender in NA 149, sources added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2011.