Taking stock: Making inroads towards electoral success

Divergence between JI and JUI-F is opening space for PML-N to bank on.

PESHAWAR:

For the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), prevailing conditions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) seem to be conducive for adding to its political strength and advancing towards electoral success. A number of factors, including successfully overcoming internal differences, have led the party to be in a better position to succeed in the general elections.

Increasing public presence

The PML-N is currently the most vibrant political party in the province and has been organising public gatherings across K-P with increasing frequency. It is not uncommon to find Vice President Amir Muqam addressing a gathering in northern K-P, while other party stalwarts like Farid Toofan, Rahmat Salam Khattak and Zafar Azam are busy campaigning in the southern districts of the province. At the same time, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Pir Sabir Shah, Nasir Musazai and others are mustering support in the central districts, including Peshawar, attracting undecided voters and dissidents from other parties.



According to official figures shared by provincial General Secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak, in March alone, the PML-N organised 25 public meetings of which eight were attended by majority of the central leadership from K-P. “On Sunday alone, we had 12 public gatherings across the province,” Khattak informed.

Overcoming schism

A few months ago, the party was witnessing rifts in its ranks – wherein the induction of Amir Muqam in April 2012 and his subsequent active role in bringing in three MPAs of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and showing great political strength triggered concerns among certain leaders that Muqam might surpass them in a short time.

Muqam’s induction also created dissention among party ranks at district levels, with leaders openly coming together against the awarding of district slots to Muqam’s colleagues at the expense of ignoring older party workers.

However, the PML-N successfully rode out the turbulence. Party chief Nawaz Sharif took notice and strictly directed the leadership in K-P to shun their differences and show unity. To further dispel dissention, Sharif made Muqam the party’s Fata Coordinator to gain popularity in the tribal areas, which will be experiencing elections for the first time after the extension of the political parties act in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The old leadership of PML-N is now satisfied with Muqam focusing on the electorate of his hometown Shangla and the northern regions of K-P to muster support for the party along with spreading its roots in Fata.

A broadening spectrum

The Awami National Party’s (ANP) stance of not forming any pre-poll alliances will also be an added advantage for PML-N in K-P.

Talks between the Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) regarding prospects of an alliance failed a few days ago. Meanwhile, both Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are in talks to hold meetings regarding cooperation in the general elections.

With the absence of common ground between the JI and JUI-F to form an alliance, the divergence among them is further opening space for PML-N to bank on. The party’s K-P leadership is now harnessing the opportunity by separately entering into talks with both JI and JUI-F leadership for a pre-poll alliance, including the prospects of seat adjustments.

The move, if successful, is bound to yield good electoral results for PML-N in K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2013.