File photo of Arbab Ghulam Rahim. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded, headed by former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, has been renamed as Pakistan Peoples Muslim League (PPML). The announcement was made at a public meeting in Mirpurkhas Gama stadium on Wednesday by Rahim, who also used the occasion to unleash a torrent of criticism aimed at the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Although no election alliance was announced as anticipated, the PPML chief said that seat adjustment will be done with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
“The time for alliances has passed and now we will work on seat-by-seat basis with other parties,” he said. “I will act as a bridge between parties.” The Arbab family maintains a significant clout in Tharparkar and parts of Umerkot, Badin and Mirpurkhas districts. Despite an outpouring of support for the PPP in the 2008 general elections, the Arbabs swept all the seats - two National Assembly and four Sindh Assembly - with a huge margin.
In the upcoming elections, Rahim hopes to win greater support by banking on disgruntled supporters of PPP.
“The last five years were a total waste for Sindh and the country,” he said. “The party in which the people kept their faith has looted them.”
He also said that some politicians make an unnecessary fuss by raising the slogan for ‘change’.“I say that we don’t need any change. The system is not bad but we ought to bring good leaders through vote.” In what appeared more like a religious sermon, Rahim pointed at the moral degradation by citing how moral and monetary corruption was increasingly being considered acceptable.
“If elected to power, I will strictly enforce a ban on alcohol, ghutka, mainpuri, betting and drugs.” The former chief minister defended the local government system in place.
Rahim spoke in his typical blunt style and managed to keep the crowd glued to his speech by employing his oratory skills. Rahim also announced he will soon publish an autobiography on his life and political career.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
These status quo parties are all such a joke. PPML...really? How original...for God's sake Pakistan...please vote for PTI.