Unity of action lacking: PPP invites PML-F to join government

PML-F’s Imtiaz Shaikh offers his resignation as he was not kept in the loop.

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) offer to the Pakistan Muslim League- Functional (PML-F) to join the coalition government in Sindh has resulted in an internal dispute in PML-F cadres.

The dispute has resulted in the resignation of PML-F ‘s Sindh chapter general-secretary Imtiaz Shaikh. However, Pir Pagara has yet to accept his resignation.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that PML-F Sindh chapter president Syed Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi held a meeting with chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday night and discussed with him the modus operandi to join the coalition government. “There were differences between Imtiaz Shaikh and Syed Saddaruddin Shah Rashdi over many issues,” said a PML-F leader on the condition of anonymity.  Sources said that after the meeting between PPP and PML-F, chief minister has sought more time to consult with former president Asif Ali Zadari.

Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who happens to be the brother-in-law of Pir Pagara also confirmed the meeting. “We believe in the policy of reconciliation that is why we want to take all  parliamentary parties on board and we will welcome them.”

For his part, Shaikh said that he had no difference with Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi and tendered the resignation because he could no longer look after the party’s affairs.

It may be mentioned here that more than one dozen PML-F leaders have left the party to join the PPP in the last six months. PML-F’s former MPA Rana Sattar, Pir of Ranipur, Niaz Shah Jeelani, Syed Mohammad Shah and Chakar Khan Shahani of Dadu district and Amanullah Marri of Sanghar districts are among them.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2014.