Following Abbasi’s departure: Two PML-N MPAs lay claim to parliamentary leader’s post

Party sources reveal Abbottabad MPA Sardar Nalotha has been approved in principle.

PESHAWAR:

After the appointment of Sardar Mehtab Abbasi as the governor and the subsequent vacancy of his position as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) parliamentary leader in the provincial assembly, differences have emerged among party members over selecting Abbasi’s successor.

A PML-N leader requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune the party held a meeting last week which was chaired by Governor Abbasi and attended by the party’s MPAs. In the consultative meeting, it was agreed that the party’s lawmaker from Abbottabad, Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, would be made the parliamentary leader. MPA Wajihuz Zaman Khan, a claimant to the throne hailing from Mansehra, was reportedly ignored.

The party official said another PML-N lawmaker from Mansehra, Sardar Zahoor Ahmad, backs Zaman as the parliamentary leader and the latter’s absence in last week’s meeting raised concerns of dissent within party members.

Responding to a query, the PML-N official said Zaman has threatened to quit the party if his ‘right’ to the candidacy was bypassed. Talking to The Express Tribune, Zaman said he has been elected as an MPA four times and demanded the PML-N leadership to support him for the post.

Party sources reveal that Zaman has jumped ship between various political parties and this has led to some lawmakers’ opposition towards his becoming the parliamentary leader.

Meanwhile, Nalotha said the party has nominated him in principle as its parliamentary leader and thanked parliamentarians for trusting him for the post. However, a formal announcement in this regard is yet to be made.

“I am a senior member of PML-N and have the adequate parliamentary experience,” Nalotha told The Express Tribune.

PML-N Provincial President Pir Sabar Shah said the whole thing is a non-issue, adding party lawmakers will back a consensus candidate and make an announcement soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2014.