Internal incoherence: PML-N gropes in the dark ahead of LG polls

Several parties in K-P have already formed alliances and worked out their terms.

PESHAWAR:

While coalition parties and opposition parties have been busy strategising for local government (LG) polls, announcing alliances, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is yet to swing into electioneering action. The party has to resolve its internal rifts before it can expect success in these elections, say PML-N members.

A grand meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter of PML-N has been finally convened for Saturday (today) to discuss and formulate a strategy for LG elections.

PML-N General Secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak told The Express Tribune on Friday that district presidents and general secretaries from across K-P have been summoned at the party’s provincial secretariat to discuss the matter.

Incidentally, PML-N’s decision comes at the heels of the chief minister’s (CM) statement on Wednesday wherein he told a delegation of Insaf Student Federation that all preparations have been made for LG polls and April 30 has been proposed to the Supreme Court as the date for the election. “In the light of directives issued by the apex court, the provincial government is prepared for any date set up by the Election Commission of Pakistan,” said CM Pervez Khattak.

Rahmat said Saturday’s meeting, the first for addressing LG polls, has been called to obtain feedback from district office bearers.

Commenting on the election date proposed by the government, Rahmat said, “Keeping in view the many arrangements that need to be undertaken, it seems unlikely that LG polls will be held on April 30. More time will be needed to finalise a date.”

According to a senior PML-N leader, until now the party had not taken any tangible steps regarding LG elections. “This is the first meeting the party has called regarding the polls while other political parties in K-P have already conducted several rounds of meetings,” he said.

PML-N has its work cut out for the local bodies polls as it needs to set its own house in order first by bringing in individual performance-oriented leaders to work together in coordination in the larger interest of the party, he added.

A PML-N stalwart from Peshawar said the elections may not be smooth sailing for the party as it has to overcome many issues, especially bringing coherence in its ranks.

“Because of the growing dissent within the party it is going through a tough time in K-P,” he said. Several leaders have left the party, including Farid Toofan who recently left to join Awami National Party-Wali, the breakaway faction of ANP formed by Begum Nasim Wali. “Fiaz Khan from Swat, Bahadur Khan and Rahim Shah from Mardan have also deserted the party,” he said.

Another PML-N member said older activists are increasingly feeling disappointed for being left out in party decisions.  “There are people who are at the helm of the party even though they only joined recently,” he contended.

Considering the fact that ANP, Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl have already formed an alliance and have progressed towards chalking out a regional strategy, PML-N is only just taking it initial steps.

The internal situation of PML-N as shared by some leaders indicates that the party will need extra efforts on the part of its leaders; firstly to pacify the feelings of dissent among its members and then decide which party it can form an alliance with for LG polls and on what terms.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2014.