LAHORE:
As the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) sways under the pressure of party stalwart Javed Hashmi bidding adieu and Pakistan-Tehreek-i-Insaf emerging as a serious rival, the party summoned a crucial meeting on Monday for long overdue elections of the provincial organisation of the party.
It also made some major changes in its political structure and organisation – most notably, office bearers in their traditional stronghold, Punjab, will be elected separately from North Punjab and South Punjab, according to a press release.
In addition, the party’s chief organisers from Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) and Sindh have been directed to call a meeting of provincial general councils on December 28 and January 2 respectively so that the party’s provincial elections may take place, and in Balochistan and Punjab these elections will be held on January 4 and January 6 respectively.
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif presided over the meeting of provincial chief organisers at Raiwind on Monday in which the besieged chief tried to resolve differences among candidates for different slots of the party’s provincial organisations. In addition, Nawaz announced that former MPA Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal would now be the new ‘chief coordinator’, who will scrutinise the entry of newcomers into the party along with Nawaz.
He also nominated Syed Ghous Ali Shah as president of the Sindh chapter. Earlier, a power clash was apparent as both Shah and Saleem Zia (Sindh chief organiser) were contenders for the post of provincial party president in Sindh. Sources said now that Shah is nominated as provincial president, there will be competition between former Sindh governor Mamnoon Hussain and Zia for the slot of general secretary.
Appeasing the dissatisfied
Differences among party members are not a new story. In July, central office-bearers of the party were elected, but elections for provincial party posts were delayed because of conflicts amongst party members.
Sources within the PML-N told The Express Tribune that following Hashmi’s departure for PTI, the party has frantically called the meetings so that other ‘disgruntled’ members can be appeased through provincial party slots.
How the party’s elections work
Provincial elections for the party were last held in 2004. According to the PML-N’s constitution, such elections are to be held every five years but in 2009, Nawaz dissolved all party slots – he appointed chief organisers in all four provinces, instead of provincial presidents. Around eight months ago, the party elected councillors at the city, district and division level, but not at the provincial level.
This time, however, if the party’s constitution is followed, provincial councils will elect party office-bearers at the provincial level. There are 600 provincial councillors in K-P and around 700 in Sindh. These councils will take part in the elections. The posts will include those of provincial president, vice presidents, general secretary, information secretary, finance secretary and joint secretaries.
Who are the contenders?
Sources say Sardar Zulfikar Khosa is likely to be elected as the party’s south Punjab president, while Khwaja Saad Rafique and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif will be elected president and general-secretary of north Punjab respectively.
The sources added the contender for the post of K-P president is Pir Sabir Shah, while Anwar Kamal will be the candidate for party general secretary. They said that K-P chief organiser Sardar Mehtab Khan has refused to contest the election via the party’s provincial slot. However Sharif tried to remove differences between Mehtab Khan, Pir Sabir Shah and Sir Anjam Khan at the Raiwind meeting.
In an attempt to boost the morale of a recently shaken party, Sharif will be present on the occasion of the provincial party elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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All my family and close friends will not go for these two status quo parties. PTI is a new entrant in the politics and we are happy to have this change. Our vote will go to PTI.
Now itis too late.tale enders never win matches.
Mr. Javed Hashmi, left PML-N, it is the sign of his desperation or hunger for some position in next government. In either case he is a failure, since he is now handicapped and should retire from such activities for the sake of Pakistan. Imran Khan is getting in-natural momentum and such actions may bring another puppet government on the shoulders of weak people.
Myself and our family was pro PML-N, but its time for a change. I hate the concept of keeping it in the family. There are so many wise men in the party but Nawaz Sahab can't think outside the box. It's a party not a family run conglomerate. Not a family business and with Pakistan need to do Insaf and not run a country. Or is he sending out a msg that the best ppl for the party is within his own household and others are not worthy enough. I'm not buying this. PPP is not even the real PPP and even they are family run joint. Hence........... Insaf Ka Takaaza hai aur Insaf aayay ga.. Time for a change. Imran has been on a welfare reform starting with the hospital and I wish to see a genuine change in this country and I want him to lead.. Nothing more nothing less than that.. The way I think, this is most likley ALLAH listening to the prayers of masses where we are to finally find a suitable person to run the country and improve out lives and it is upto us now whether to embrace misery ( as of now ) or whether we need a change and improve our lives.. Me and my family are all voting for Imran..
I heard that saleem Zia is also looking to join Javed Hashmi