LAHORE:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Like Minded (PML-LM) is not happy with its ally, the PML-N, and is contemplating its options for the next elections.
According to some PML-LM members, who spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity, the party has decided to give a “deadline” to the PML-N – to think about what they can offer PML-LM – after the latter backed out of a promise to award tickets for Senate to PML-LM members Saleem Saifullah and Ghaffar Qureshi.
The only consolation, they said, was that Nawaz Sharif had assured Humayun Akhtar that he would be awarded a National Assembly ticket in the next elections from Faisalabad. But Akhtar and former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim are among the very few PML-LM people the PML-N is willing to give a ticket to.
Senator Saifullah told The Express Tribune that the PML-N had to “finalise the terms of the alliance”, warning that the Like Minded group was ready to explore “other options”. The PML-LM members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan had no objection to their joining the PTI but said that he would consider an alliance only after the general elections.
Meanwhile, some PML-LM members are considering “restoring” the Pakistan Muslim League-Junejo, led by Hamid Nasir Chattha, to contest general elections if the PML-N does not award them tickets. The PML-J had merged with the PML-Quaid in 2004.
PML-Like Minded information secretary Mian Asif said that the party wanted to continue its alliance with the PML-N, adding that it was up to the PML-N to make the alliance work.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2012.
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