Infighting: PML-N leaders fail to hide differences

One party leader did not show up, allegedly after rifts emerged over party ticket awards.

RAWALPINDI: Whether there were intraparty differences or some other reason, the joint press conference of two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders from NA-55 and NA-56 could not be held as scheduled.

PML-N heavyweight Hanif Abassi, who is contesting from NA-56, was supposed to address a joint press conference with Shakeel Awan, who is contesting from NA-55, at the Rawalpindi Press Club on Sunday. But Abassi did not show up, lending credence to recently rumours that fissures between the two party leaders have surfaced over the award of party tickets.

The party had sent invitations to the media two days back for coverage of a joint press conference, and had paid the press club’s fees for the event.

Reporters had to wait for hours before Shakeel Awan finally showed up with local party leaders including Sardar Naseem.

Addressing the press conference, both leaders dispelled the impression that there were any internal differences between them. They claimed that the rumours were all propaganda being spread by anti-PML-N groups.



Meanwhile, when contacted by reporters, Abbasi said that he was not aware of any joint conference. “What press conference are you talking about, I don’t know about any such press conference,” he said.

At the same time, PML-N sources told The Express Tribune that differences between Abassi and Awan have recently surfaced over the issuance of party tickets, as both men wanted tickets to be issued to their favourites.

The sources said that local party leaders tried their best to settle the differences between the two leaders, but their efforts bore no fruit, which resulted in the last-minute ‘cancellation’ of the joint press conference.

Some local leaders of the party present at the press club said that Abbasi should give up his stubbornness at this crucial time.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2013.