KARACHI
The ruling PPP’s new strategy to shake hands with the PML-Q is apparently paying off, as the latter is not attending the meeting convened by Pir Pagara in efforts to unify various factions of the PML.
Pagara is hosting the first two-day meeting of leaders from different factions of the PML today. The meeting would be attended by leaders of the Humayun Akhtar-led PMLQ Likeminded, Shaikh Rasheed-led AML and Ejazul Haq-led PML-Z.
Senior Muslim league leaders, Gohar Ayub Khan, Hamid Nasir Chatha, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali have also been invited. “PML-Q leaders will not attend the meeting as they have differences with the likeminded group’s leadership,” PML-F leader Imtiaz Shaikh, who recently visited Lahore, told Pakistan Today.
Central leader of the PML-Q Ghous Bux Maher said he was unaware of such a meeting. Besides that, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was not in the country, he said. Shaikh said Pagara will hold a separate meeting with PML-Q leaders later.
According to the schedule, all invited leaders will arrive in the city on Thursday, and discuss the unification matters at a dinner at Kingri House. A formal session will be held on the second day.
Although PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has clearly expressed his reservations over the PML unification, PML-F sources said that they were still optimistic about receiving a positive response from the PML-N leadership.
