ISLAMABAD – PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has offered former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim party’s top slot in Sindh, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably. “In his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, Shujaat had an exclusive meeting with Rahim and asked him to come back to the country by ending his self-imposed exile and lead the PML-Q’s Sindh chapter in place of Ghous Bux Mehar,” a source in the PML-Q said.
The source said Shujaat also asked the former chief minister to play his role in mending fences between the PML-Q and the PML-Q Likeminded. “In response, Rahim advised Shujaat to join the United Muslim League as this step would play a significant role in melting the ice between the two PML factions,” the source added.
In July 2009 party elections, the Chaudhrys had refused to give party’s provincial chapter’s presidency to Rahim due to his close association with former president Pervez Musharraf and got Ghous Bux Mehar elected to the slot. The source said Rahim also told Shujaat that he had disassociated himself from Musharraf and was now part of the PML-Q Likeminded.
“Shujaat offered the party’s provincial presidency to Rahim to woo him back and other party leaders, including Liaqat Jatoi, Sheikh Maqbool, Sherazi Brothers, who have left the PML-Q and formed Sindh Awami Alliance by showing solidarity with Arbab Ghulam Rahim in 2009,” said the source. Incumbent PML-Q Sindh President Ghous Bux Mehar said Shujaat had not offered any position to Rahim. Salim Saifullah confirmed that Shujaat had asked Rahim to play his role in bringing PML-Q and the Likeminded group closer.
“Rahim also talked to me about Shujaat’s proposal of reconciliation. He told me that Shujaat had asked him to come back to Pakistan and the PML-Q would get him elected on the slot of party’s Sindh president,” Saifullah said. Chaudhry Shujaat denied offering any party slot to Rahim. “My meeting with Rahim was not arranged but it was accidental,” he said, adding that he had also not asked Rahim to work for mending fences with party dissidents.
