Inductions and coalitions: To the victor go the spoils

PML-F agrees to join government in Centre as independent candidates also line up to join PML-N.

LAHORE/ KARACHI:

To the victor go the spoils, and after its electoral victory, the PML-N is seeing many flocking to its banners. With the PML-Functional (PML-F) along with a slew of successful independents on board, the party can easily form governments in the Centre as well as in Punjab, even though it has the required numerical strength in both assemblies to manage a solo flight.

Independents MNAs and MPAs are lining up to join the victorious party of prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif.

As many as 12 independent lawmakers joined the PML-N on Tuesday, while former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif told the media that he would disclose the growing number of their new members within three days.



Meanwhile, Pir Pagara’s PML-F, which has won four seats in the National Assembly, accepted the winning party’s invitation to join its government in the Centre on Tuesday.

A delegation of the PML-N, comprising Senator Jaffar Iqbal, Rana Mashhood and Liaquat Jatoi, met with the PML-F chief and spiritual leader of the Hurs, pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, at his residence on Tuesday to convey to them Nawaz’s invitation to join hands in the Centre.



PML-F secretary general Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh confirmed that their chief accepted the invitation and congratulated Nawaz over his party’s victory in the elections and pledged to continue the cooperation between the two parties.

PML-N leader Rana Mashhood told reporters that both parties would work together for the progress of Sindh as well as the rest of the country.

The PML-N and PML-F had taken the initiative of assembling anti-Pakistan Peoples Party and anti-Muttahida Qaumi Movement political groups and formed a 10-party electoral alliance at the provincial level.

The leaders of both parties also accused the PPP of rigging the election in rural Sindh.

Addressing a press conference, PML-F leader Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh accused the PPP of rigging and announced a province-wide protest on May 16. He rejected the election results of eight national assembly and 27 provincial assembly constituencies, saying that the police and administration were involved in rigging in favour of PPP’s candidates.

Similarly, PML-N leader and former Sindh chief minister Liaquat Jatoi addressed a press conference where he also accused the PPP of rigging the elections in Dadu district. He said the PPP hired criminals to beat and kidnap polling agents of the opponent candidates.

Claiming to have proof of the rigging, Jatoi said he would approach the election tribunals and judiciary, and continue protests till re-elections were announced.

Independent candidates

Four independent MNAs – Dr Afzal Dhandla from Bhakkar, Chaudhry Tahir from Vehari and Saddique Baloch and Abdul Rehman Khan Kanjo from Lodhran – announced joining hands with the PML-N, along with eight MPAs –Naeem Bhabha and Yusuf from Vehari, Malik Ghazanfar Abbas Cheena and Aamir Anayat Shahani from Bhakkar and four from Lodhran, including Jhangir Bhutta and Amir Iqbal Shah.

The two MNAs and four MPAs from Lodhran won this year’s election from the Shaheed Kanjo group.

The Kanjo group had requested Nawaz’s party to award them tickets to contest the elections against Akhtar Kanjo. At the time, however, the PML-N preferred to award the ticket to Akhtar, who was ultimately defeated by all the candidates in the Shaheed Kanjo group.

Similarly, Dhandla had sought a party ticket in Bhakkar, but the PML-N awarded it to Rashid Akbar Niwani and Saeed Akbar Niwani, who were disqualified from contesting the polls by a court.

In Vehari, the party’s first choice Tehmina Daultana was also defeated by Naeem Bhabha and Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry.


Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2013.