Tug of war: Rifts in PML-N a drama orchestrated to malign leadership: Muqam

K-P chapter has accused party big shots of sidelining grass roots workers

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Prime Minister Amir Muqam has said protests against the central Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership are nothing but a storm in a teacup.

PML-N has of late battled with internal rifts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Dissidents have accused the major players of PML-N of ignoring the state of the party in the province. Protests in the provincial capital by the Party Bachao Tehreek raised their ambition and disgruntled PML-N members seemed adamant to get rid of Governor Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Senator Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Muqam. The Party Bachao Tehreek or save the party movement includes PML-N members from 17 districts.

Internal metrics

Talking to The Express Tribune Muqam said, “The protest is just a drama to denigrate the party’s central leadership. Someone is misguiding these workers as they are following an entirely different agenda.” He added, “It seems as if they are being ordered to hold such demonstrations.

Muqam said, “I don’t know who has been guiding the protesting workers but it will definitely help the opposition.”

The PM’s adviser said he was a devoted PML-N worker who facilitated workers in fulfilling legitimate demands in the past. However, he added, “Protesting and defaming the central leadership is not the job of true party workers.”



Muqam stated, “The prime minister has a vision and will never demoralise workers in any part of the country.” He added action taken by a handful of workers cannot represent the whole province since a majority of local government representatives and national assembly members stood with the party’s leaders.

Ignored workers

Reacting to Muqam’s statement, party members told The Express Tribune the prime minister should ask protesting workers if Muqam provided funds to districts other than Shangla.

“They [leaders] ignored workers after securing positions in the federal government where the governor, who should have welcomed party workers, has turned a deaf ear to their woes,” said PML-N provincial senior vice president Waqif Khan.

He said, “We have warned the central leadership as party is losing its position.” According to Waqif, Jaghra and Muqam are responsible for the situation the party is in.

“Funds are issued to favourites but old party loyalists are being sidelined.” He added, funds granted for the province were distributed in only one district. The K-P vice president accused Muqam of spending funds on Shangla which is his son’s constituency.

Root of the issue

PML-N workers decided to hold a protest on October 28, but it was delayed because of the earthquake. Later, they were to hold a demonstration in Islamabad on November 6. However, on request of provincial president Pir Sabir Shah, the demonstration was postponed till November 20.

Criticising PML-N K-P leaders, activists complained the central set up was kept in the dark over various issues. Workers were compelled to hold protests in the federal capital only to be heard. They demanded the K-P leaders should immediately resign from the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd,  2015.