Chief of his own faction of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif may be willing to accept leaders from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) who were loyal to former president Pervez Musharraf, but President Asif Ali Zardari has not proved to be so forgiving.
President Zardari is unlikely to accept within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) folds close to two dozen leading politicians who had switched loyalties to the former military dictator in the 2002 general elections, his associates said.
“Having the dissidents back in the PPP doesn’t seem possible. Zardari Sahib is not interested in them,” said a party official on Sunday.
Sharif, who is the head of the main opposition, was specifically asked at a news conference in Lahore about the possibility of having PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and his associates back in his party.
The PML-Q later helped Musharraf get elected as president from the assemblies.
Almost two dozen PPP leaders also jumped onto Musharraf’s bandwagon after the 2002 polls, hoping to avoid court cases against former PPP leader and premier Benazir Bhutto, who was also in exile at the time.
Former ministers Sher Afghan Khan Niazi, Raza Hayat Hiraj, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Aftab Khan Sherpao and Rao Sikandar Iqbal were prominent among those who formed what they named the Patriot faction of the PPP.
They later merged their group with the Chaudhrys’ party when Musharraf ‘unified’ all his supporters in one party.
Most of these Patriots are still considered to have strong political leverage with strong chances of winning elections because they do not need affiliation with any party to convince voters. In most cases, their voters are in rural and semi-urban constituencies.
Individuals close to President Zardari said no efforts were being made on any level to lure them back into the PPP, although the party is desperately looking for candidates who can ensure victory in the upcoming general elections – which are scheduled for early 2013 but might be held later this year.
When contacted, PPP spokesperson MNA Qamar Zaman Kaira remained vague, saying the doors of the party were open for anybody who wanted to join or rejoin.
But when pressed as to whether the party would not hesitate to accept Patriots, he said: “Well, about this particular thing, I won’t say anything. I will have to contact the leadership of my party.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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Whatever its sins, the PPP does deserve respect for refusing to take back the political opportunists who jump parties whenever they feel threatened. Zardari may not be the cleanest kid on the block but at least he isn't subscribing to the revolving door theory in this instance. Let's give credit where credit is due.
@Rabia: I should complete your statement (which you wanted to say) that only Imran Khan can do the things through "Tsunami". But how? Accepting LOTAs & Mush remnants? And that too with the assistance of Establishment? Forget dear and 'grow up' (a common cliche with PTI, which should actually apply to computer savvy, urbanite youth of middle & lower middle class).
Is this suppose to be a cruel joke or some thing? Mr. Zardari have already made an alliance with the PML-Q and Faisal Saleh Hayat was the federal minister for Power and Electricity before he went before the supreme court. ET should atleast try a editorial review of a hear say before printing some lame propaganda item.
there's a difference between forming a tactical alliance with another party and letting lotas from PPP back into PPP who would leave PPP exposed to another establishment engineered fragmentation. Considering that PPP is the only national party that hasn't fragmented into tinier and tinier fragments over the years, it would be worth it for PML-N to take a page out of Zardari's book.
This article is so flaky. When Zardari is sitting with the chaudrys, how is it that he is against members returning to the PPP fold. This is just to soften the blow of people joining PTI
Faisal Saleh Hayat is currently serving as Federal Minister of Housing in this PPP-led govt.
Across the political spectrum in Pakistani politics, It is only PPP who says NO to traitors. Bravo!
Lol !! Already 4 of them have been accepted into PTI !!!
As if by accepting these folks, PPP's performance will shoot through the roof. Who cares???
We send them by our votes to National & Provincial Assemblies only to upgrade country laws (Isn’t their only duty in the assemblies?). They change parties, floors, exempt themselves from laws and taxes. Use “NRO”, presented by an ex-army chief, to eliminate cases against them.
How many of them attend assemblies’ session? If they attend, for what purpose? Only to pass laws for their own benefits.
Other duty they perform very well is throwing whatever available on house floor or mouth on each other. Is this democracy all we can have?
jiyeeeee Musharraf
there is no last word and there are lots of U-turns in politics (well said by Ch Shujaat sab)
What kind of reporting is this?? What about Faisal Soule Hayat?? He was a prominent PPP member who went over to Mush and is now a cabinet member. The "qaatil" league leader Elahi is a senior minister, so who is left?? Tribune get your facts straight before printing front page headlines.
if PPP can accept firdos ashiq awan, have Q-league leaders like ch pervaiz ellahi, faisal saleh hayat in cabinet than whats the justification of this statement?
30 October zindabad
Don't worry, PTI will acquire them and do Tsunami with all the lotas.
PTI welcomes all Turncoats. & the PTI fans celebrate!
Zardari is a great man !
Nawaz Shareef forgot his master Zia-ul-Haq, NS do not throw stones on others living in a house of glass
Opportunists and Principle Stand - "Farq Saaf Zaher Hai."