In negotiations: Arbab Rahim coy about choosing sides as parties vie for his support

Khursheed Shah says talks began with Rahim when he was still in Dubai.

HYDERABAD:

The first formal interaction between the former foes, Pakistan Peoples Party and Arbab Ghulam Rahim, for negotiations on forming an electoral alliance or seat adjustments, ended inconclusively in Mirpurkhas on Friday. The two sides, however, announced to meet again after the end of the scrutiny process.

The meeting between PPP’s central leader, Syed Khursheed Shah, and former Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who now heads the Peoples Muslim League, lasted for an hour. The Arbab group won all the six seats in the 2008 and 2002 general elections under the banner of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and the National Alliance, respectively.

Addressing the press after the meeting, Rahim said he conveyed his grievances against the PPP leadership to Khursheed Shah. “I could not return to Pakistan for five years because of the party [PPP]. During that time, they never even tried to contact me.” He said that he would consult his party’s leaders and workers over propositions discussed with Shah and a final round of negotiations will be held within a week.



Rahim, however, avoided sharing what demands the two sides have put forward. Shah, who also did not disclose any details, said that both sides have put behind their hostilities, adding that all issues cannot be resolved in one meeting.

According to sources, Arbab was unwilling to support any party or its candidate who want to contest from the two National Assembly and four Sindh Assembly seats in Tharparkar. “He is also bargaining for supporting his candidates for provincial assembly seats in Umerkot and Mirpurkhas,” a source claimed.

Earlier on Thursday, a meeting between Rahim and a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional also concluded without an outcome. The former MNAs Ghaus Bux Mahar, Faqir Jadim Mangrio, Haji Khuda Bux Rajjar and Pappu Shah met him at the residence of former senator, Ghaffar Qureshi, in Mirpurkhas. Mangrio told reporters that their delegation will meet again with the Peoples Muslim League leader on behalf of the ten-party alliance.

Rahim admitted that he was being approached by the PPP, PML-F and Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf. “My doors are open to all of them. We will take a final decision after negotiations.”

Rahim returned to Pakistan in March, 2013, after almost a five-year exile. During his tenure as the Sindh chief minister, he was regarded as the strongest opponent of the PPP. The hostilities between the two sides continued when the PPP assumed power in 2008 and Rahim left the country. Rahim and PPP, however, began to make public overtures as soon as he came back from exile.

Khursheed Shah said that the talks with Rahim began when he was still in Dubai.

He opposed the support given by Rahim and PML-F to PTI’s Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi who is contesting from NA 228 in Umerkot district. “A candidate who doesn’t belong to the area should not be given the support.” Shah said the PPP has still not decided its candidates for the NA 226 constituency in Mirpurkhas, hinting that an agreement could be reached with Rahim for a joint candidate.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2013.