Political manoeuvring: Arbab Rahim merges his party with PML-N
Announcement follows meeting with PML-N Punjab president Shahbaz Sharif.
PPML chief Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim meets PML-N’s Punjab president Shahbaz Sharif to announce merger of the two political parties. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE:
Former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has announced the merger of his party, the Pakistan Peoples Muslim League (PPML), with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
The PPML chief made the decision during a meeting with PML-N’s Punjab president and the province’s chief minister-designate Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday.
Speaking at the occasion, Rahim expressed admiration for the PML-N chief and prime minister-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif. He said the PML-N chief had the capacity to tackle all challenges currently confronting the country. Rahim added that the merger of PPML with PML-N would benefit development projects in Sindh.
Shahbaz Sharif, meanwhile, welcomed Rahim’s decision to merge PPML with PML-N and hoped that it would strengthen the party’s position in Sindh.
Last month, Rahim, when he was still the president of PML-Likeminded, announced his intention to chalk out a seat adjustment deal with PML-N in a workers’ convention. Following his failure to reach any deal with PML-N, he announced he would contest the May 11 elections from the PPML platform. Around that time, however, Rahim met Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind, telling the PML-N chief that although he would contest elections separately, he would join the PML-N if he wins.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2013.
Former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has announced the merger of his party, the Pakistan Peoples Muslim League (PPML), with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
The PPML chief made the decision during a meeting with PML-N’s Punjab president and the province’s chief minister-designate Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday.
Speaking at the occasion, Rahim expressed admiration for the PML-N chief and prime minister-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif. He said the PML-N chief had the capacity to tackle all challenges currently confronting the country. Rahim added that the merger of PPML with PML-N would benefit development projects in Sindh.
Shahbaz Sharif, meanwhile, welcomed Rahim’s decision to merge PPML with PML-N and hoped that it would strengthen the party’s position in Sindh.
Last month, Rahim, when he was still the president of PML-Likeminded, announced his intention to chalk out a seat adjustment deal with PML-N in a workers’ convention. Following his failure to reach any deal with PML-N, he announced he would contest the May 11 elections from the PPML platform. Around that time, however, Rahim met Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind, telling the PML-N chief that although he would contest elections separately, he would join the PML-N if he wins.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2013.