KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s strong effort to play a role in the Sindh political scene has set off alarm bells in the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its allies, and also created an opportunity for groups opposed to PPP to unite.
While Nawaz Sharif has managed to convince several people to join his party, the merger of the Mumtaz Bhutto-led Sindh National Front (SNF) with the PML-N has surprised many. Political analysts believe that Bhutto’s decision will propel him from isolation to inclusion [in mainstream politics].
Bhutto, who Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used to call “my talented cousin”, has also started approaching influential people in Sindh to create an alliance that would oppose the PPP in the next elections.
Mumtaz Bhutto studied at Oxford University and was known as a ‘dahisar’ (a brave man). But in recent years, he was confined to his village Pir Bux Bhutto in Larkana district following the growing popularity of PPP in the area.
Nationalist parties Awami Tehreek and Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party have also started negotiating with Sharif, while the Arbab Ghulam Rahim-led group of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has signed an election pact with the PML-N. Other clans who had a large vote bank in 2002, such as the Jatois of Dadu district, Sherazis of Thatta, Tando Allahyar’s Magsis and the Unars of Larkana have reportedly assured the PML-N of their support.
The PPP is also playing catch up and has tried to woo the Mahar brothers from Ghotki district. But the Mahars have said no to the PPP and the PML-N. According to sources, former district nazim Ali Gohar Mahar and ex-chief minister Ali Mohammad Mahar demanded that the PPP not field candidates for the one national and three provincial assembly seats in the district. “This is our constituency. Only us or our supporters can win the election in our area,” Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar reportedly told MNA Faryal Talpur, President Asif Ali Zardari’s sister.
The PPP is still undecided on its future course of action. The Mahar family tends to contest elections independently before joining a coalition.
“The Mahar family joins any alliance or government on the directives of ‘bari sarkar’ (establishment). It seems they have not yet been signalled where to go,” said journalist Sohail Sangi.
PML-N has constituted a nine-member committee led by former chief minister Liaquat Jatoi to contact influential Sindh politicians in the province.
Raheela Magsi, the former district nazim Tando Allahyar and her brother Irfan Gul Magsi, a former minister for revenue, have also been approached by Jatoi and are expected to join the PML-N soon.
However journalist Sangi disagrees that the PML-N can win seats in Sindh.
“They want to use Mumtaz Bhutto as a ‘tag’ to show that Bhutto’s cousin and other powerful forces are with them,” he said. “How can you assume change from a man who cannot even win his own seat?”
However, it is uncertain what position he will get in the PML-N. Mumtaz Bhutto has served as Sindh chief minister twice, as well as governor and a federal minister.
“Bhutto has rendered a big sacrifice by merging his party into the PML-N. We are also considering giving him the most important position in the party. Deliberations are ongoing and he is likely to replace Raja Zafarul Haq as PML-N chairperson,” a senior PML-N leader said.
While the usual suspicion that the ‘establishment’ is behind the new political game in Sindh, Sangi doesn’t think that the establishment is serious. “Nawaz Sharif is once again trying to give the impression that the PML-N is a national party and some influential people including nationalists are with him.” he said. Sangi says it was odd that a Sindh nationalist group had indicated forming an election alliance with the PML-N.
According to senior analyst and writer Inam Shaikh, Nawaz Sharif has emerged as a vocal leader for Sindh while the PPP – which has a huge vote bank in Sindh – has ‘ditched its people’ and its coalition partner (MQM) appears to be backing a movement for a Mohajir province.
“The situation has changed. We are in the era of social media. People are aware of their issues and know how the PPP has failed to deliver. In this situation the PML-N can get considerable votes because old allies of Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf who have solid votes in their constituencies are limping back to join the PML-N,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
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Anybody who thinks that NS can win any seats against the coalition of PPP and MQM is living in fool's paradise. As I have said before no matter how many zeros, the sum of zero plus zero plus zero is always zero. Oldest rejected politicians cannot bring changes. NS is a leader of upper Punjab and Hazara and that is his limit. Despite demands from PTI and others that if they are sincere they should resign from their seats, they know it is not possible for them to win that many seats again. People talk about sympathy vote for PPP, but did PML-N not get a sympathy vote when they signed exile agreement and bundled out twice? Sindhi cannot forget the hanging of ZAB and the killing of BB, both in the same city and the closeness of NS with Zia.
I am a PTI supporter but I think this is good for Sindh and Pakistan. PPP should not be given free hand in interior Sindh. Things will get better if there will be competion. One more term of PPP and Pakistan is gone. N should win in Sindh and PTI will clean sweep KP and Punjab . yayyy
@Sibghat mansoor: If Nawaz is true Pakistan than why he managed to escape aboard along with two suitcases. He should have faced the cases and not left the workers to bear the burnt of Musharraf's regime
@Zamir Malik: PTI has given up on interior SIndh. I think theyre targettinga handful in certain areas particularly Karachi and hoping for the odd seat in interior. Oh and not just upper PUnjab but central and South PUnjab as well. expect an interesting scenario in South Punjab and PTI could pull off a major surprise. plus presence in KPK willbe sigficant. expecta clean sweep in hazara.
We are with Nawaz Sharif.
We welcome Nawaz Sharif to the land of Sindh. We need change. We will vote for Nawaz Sharif.
@ali brohi!!!Nawaz sharif is a true patriot pakistani.The people who were/are against kalabagh dam are responsible for this 18 hourly load shedding.i don't know why Sindhi don't use brain
PMLN now grasp the current political situation quite well and that in return puts most of the initiatives in her hand wonderfully i.e, either it was the challenge of “Janobi Punjab” by PPP or to start the movement against PM or government people awaiting from PMLN and PTI simultaneously for quite long time, PMLN played out its cards quite very well.
On Muhajir Province issue, it literally put Sindh government on backfoot by demanding to erase all wall chalking and billboards within next 72 hours completely. For me, Here, It’s a gamble but since PMLN neither a vote bank of her own in Sindh either Urban or Rural, therefore it’s a good calculated move to put all the weight on one side instead of lurking around as previous in between the both as usual.
On the other hand the major opponents (from PPP to PTI) are still in doldrums to envisage a clear cut policy on many thorny issues like above.
Approaching wadiras to liberate Sindh...wow nice strategy
@Blithe: What happened to not taking anyone from PML-Q?
Nawaz Sharif's alliance with Mumtaz Ali Bhutto and other nationalist parties/groups is a classical example of opportunistic politics. In order to have the crown of Prime Minister the third time, Nawaz Sharif has done incalculable damage to peace and stability of Sindh province. Nevertheless, the people of Sindh will hopefully not be fooled by his gimmicks as they remember very well that he is the same sharif who raised the slogan "JAAG PUNJABI JAAG, TERI PUGH NUO LAG GAYA DAAG."
Nawaz sharif is not sincere. He will again announce to build Kalabagh dam and anti Sindh projects when comes to power. Please reconsider your decisions before making an alliance with PML N
Well PMLN is doing a good politics and I hope PTI will also come out of Defence, Model Towns and Bahria towns and will woo some Politicians as well. Imran Khan seems to be underground and is not taking any stance and he has just closed his eyes from Interior Sindh and his presence is only in Upper Punjab and Bashing of PMLN is now his favorite Past time. I think PTI should learn something from PMLN and if they want to be in Power then they should come out and should form alliances right now.
This is great news for the federation of Pakistan!!!