That the four Muslim League factions which were expected to form a single party could settle only at an amorphous alliance underlines the absence of unanimity over immediate aims and objectives. Alliances are normally formed by opposition parties to bring down a government through street power or use their combined parliamentary strength to form a new administration. As things stand, Pir Pagaras PML(F) is an ally of the PPP-led coalition both at the center and in Sindh. What is more, he insists that the government should be allowed to complete its tenure and the Muttahida Muslim League should meanwhile do nothing except prepare itself for the next elections.
There is little hope of the alliance gaining traction till either PML(N) or PML(Q) agree to join it. As both these parties have rejected the idea, there is little likelihood of the committee led by Mir Zafarullah Jamali succeeding in its mission. A PML(N) spokesman has termed the alliance Musharrafs alumni club, maintaining that it was fielded with a plan to divide the PML(N) vote bank in the next elections in a repeat performance of the launching of the Pakistan Islamic Front in 1993. The PML(Q) which had earlier been enthused by the idea of unity has abandoned it after meeting the PPP leaders. Being highly pragmatic, the Chaudhrys see little sense in joining what is perceived by some as the governments B team when there is a possibility of being inducted into the A team.
Except for Pir Pagara, whose party has five NA and one Senate seat on the basis of which it was given a federal ministry, most politicians who have thrown in their lot with the Pir would have preferred to ally either with the PPP or PML(N) to be able to get elected. While Pir Pagara termed the creation of the alliance as the beginning of a new dawn, few seemed to share his enthusiasm, knowing well that the organisation they were creating would be of little help to them in getting votes. Keeping this in view, Sheikh Rashid insisted on roping in the MQM, Tehrik-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami in the alliance. This would amount to yoking together heterogeneous elements that will be pulling the Muttahida Muslim League in opposite directions.
