PML-Q steps up efforts to woo allies

The party appears to be hedging its bets on the LG Ordinance.

KARACHI:

Ahead of the elections, political wheeling and dealing saw a new day as Pakistan Muslim League Quaid’s (PML-Q) top leadership met different politicians here on Sunday to forge new alliances. 

“We will unite the Pakistan Muslim League again,” said PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, referring to the several political factions which go by the name of ‘Muslim League’. “I am convinced that we will succeed.”

PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Mushahid appeared upbeat as soon as they stepped out of the airport. Crews from over a dozen television channels pounced on them immediately.

Referring to a International Republican Institute’s (IRI) latest survey, which cited PML-N as the most popular party, Shujaat said the survey was not representative of public sentiment.

“The worm on the popularity graph will be decided by people at the elections. The result will tell us what the public really wants,” he said.

Meanwhile, Baloch leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s six-point agenda for quelling unrest in his province seemed to be on the minds of PML-Q leaders for a completely different reason.

“ The government, the military and the court cannot solve the Balochistan issue,” said Shujaat, suggesting that the meetings and the hype will not take the case forward. “Our party has already worked out a solution for the problem in the form of the Balochistan committee’s recommendations.”

He was referring to recommendations made in 2005 by the parliamentary committee formed on Balochistan which suggested economic and social inclusion of locals and increased financial autonomy for the province.

The PML-Q leadership also visited Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Rashdi, the leader of PML-Functional, at his residence where National People’s Party (NPP) chief Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi was also present.

Stance on local govt ordinance’

The meeting between the leaders went on for almost three hours. It was apparent that they had discussed the new local government set-up in Sindh.

Both PML-F and NPP have decided to oppose the PPP-led coalition government when the local government ordinance is presented before the Sindh Assembly on Monday.

Jatoi said that no decision was taken in the meeting about the sitting on opposition benches. “I have been sitting among independent candidates,” he said, expressing dismay over certain provisions of the ordinance. “There should be one system for the entire province,” he said. He also disagreed with the fact that the municipal corporation mayor was given more power than the district council chairman.

He, however, was careful to avoid harsh words for the PPP. “The PPP did talk to us about the issue. If they ask us, we can recommend changes in the ordinance.”

The PML-Q, which has only one member in the Sindh Assembly, sidestepped the issue — at least publicly. “We will take a decision in the party meeting,” said Shujaat as he met Muttahida Quami Movement leaders later in the day.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2012.