LAHORE:
While the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) squares up for a faceoff with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on August 14, it appears there are rifts within the party over the proposed 30-day Independence Day celebrations announced by the government.
Sources say the month-long celebrations strikes a discordant note with the government’s pledge of austerity, as well as the plight of those displaced from North Waziristan.
Well-placed sources in the PML-N told The Express Tribune that Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has requested Nawaz Sharif to mobilise party workers through such celebrations in order to counter PTI’s August 14 Azadi March. Rafique is said to be close to Khawaja Asif, the defence minister who, along with likeminded MPs of the party, convinced Nawaz to adopt this strategy in order to counter the PTI in Punjab.
Sources said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan reminded both Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz that Rafique’s proposal to counter the PTI had impinged on the party’s popularity and solidarity. In October 2011, Rafique and other likeminded party leaders suggested the PML-N organise a public rally in Lahore and hold a public gathering at Bhati Gate two days before PTI’s public gathering for October 30.
At the time, Rafique could not mobilise support for a party gathering and put the party in an embarrassing position, while raising concerns over its dwindling popularity in Lahore.
Nisar reminded Shahbaz that the party took one-and-a-half year to ‘recover’ from this setback. Sources claim that Nisar suggested the 30-day celebrations reflect a similar strategy against the PTI that had backfired in October 2011.
Displaced people
According to sources, MPs led by Chaudhry opposed the party’s plans. They have persuaded Shahbaz Sharif that Independence Day celebrations contradict the party’s current stance on internally displaced persons (IDPs). Moreover, the elaborate celebration plans are at variance with the party’s objectives of austerity and recognition of solidarity with the Pakistan Army in Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Sources claimed that the decision to hold celebrations can be perceived as ignorant of the plight of the IDPs and will highlight the ruling party’s attempts to obtain power in the centre. They added that the overall costs of celebrations must be revealed to the public. Moreover, they said that if the party wants to avoid further embarrassment it should divert funds towards the IDPs.
Nisar and his likeminded MPs asked Shahbaz to uphold the party’s manifesto and conduct the August 14 day celebrations with simplicity, sources revealed. He also complained to Shahbaz that the party’s leadership had not arranged any iftar dinners or opened their fast in IDPs camps to show solidarity with the displaced people, they said.
Alternative proposal
Sources revealed that Nisar along with Shahbaz and Hamza will urge Nawaz Sharif to reconsider the party’s decision for a 30-days celebration and develop an alternative proposal.
They will ask Nawaz Sharif to celebrate August 14 with the IDPs at five different camps in Fata. Nawaz will visit the IDP camp in Bannu, while Shahbaz will go to Fata and Hamza and three other senior leaders will visit other IDP camps.
Change of plans
Punjab Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that all leaders within the party are on the same page on how to celebrate Independence Day. He claimed that the party leadership held their last meeting at Model Town where they chalked out a 30-day celebration plan.
“If Nawaz Sharif decides to reverse the plans, it would need to be announced before August 1,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
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The answer from Sharif family should be to extend the period of celebration to two months!!
Rex Minor
And why is Hamza Shahbaz involved in every decision that the government is taking? Do we have a declared monarchy in Pakistan now? Democracy nowhere to be seen here.
.... And the speculation anarchy prize goes to ET...
One thing that offends the literature circle is the use of words "as we know", "it is well-known", "sources", "well-placed sources", "everyone knows"
These words are implications of the fact that the writer is not well-aware and has no strong footing for his articles. Its mere gargling of speculations and ofcourse this will lead the author stray to the path for yellow journalism.
@Jibran: Whats a duck got to do with PMLN??
A story planted by Ch. Nisar, with all the praises to him, while downgrading his opponents.
@salman: You are as naive as your leader Imran Khan. Ch. Nisar used PTI many times for his own good. Truth is that he is a habitual liar and a destabilizing factor within the PMLN. His stance on recount on 40 NA seats reminds me of the joke:
This is precisely what Nisar did to Imran Khan.
I think nawaz sharif has been watching too many hollywood movies. where whenever there was turmail in the past ages, the kingdom would hold a year long games to get the peoples minds of the facts like they dont even have enough bread to eat.
PMLN headed for a crash landing. Better leave the plane before its too late.
It is clear that the "EXPERIENCED" leadership of PMLN has gone amok in response to PTI's really.
The current rift has revealed one thing: how much the ruling party cares about the people especially in KPK and FATA. disgusting
**I think one thing is clear form this that Chaudry Nisars heart is in the right place for Pakistan. We will welcome him in PTI and hope he does what is best for the country.
The rest of PML-N dont give a damn if Pakistan disintegrates like God forbid Iraq or Syria as they have backup plans with their foreign passport to leave the country.**