Saranjam Khan leaves PML-N

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has suffered yet another setback as party’s founding secretary-general and former senator Saranjam Khan decided to dissociate from the party. He resigned from the basic membership couple of days back when Nawaz announced names of the presidents and general-secretaries for the 24 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Saranjam, an influential feudal from Mardan, alleged that his proposals were ignored while finalising the list, which forced him to take the extreme step. Saranjam joined hands with Nawaz soon after 1988 general elections and became the secretary general of PML-N in early 90’s. During the period, he worked for the party in various capacities and every level. He also remained senator from 1991 to 1999.
Meanwhile, senior party leader Javed Hashmi has initiated efforts to console Saranjam but he is reluctant to join him. Instead, Saranjam convened a meeting of his supporters and well wishers at his Mardan residence today (Monday), where he is expected to reveal his future line of action. Saranjam is not alone in expressing his dissent as a number of other leading figures of PML-N are also unhappy over recent nominations at the district and provincial level.
The party is already experiencing an all-time low popularity in Abbottabad, Mansehra and adjoining areas, considered as the party’s stronghold, where the group headed by Baba Haider Zaman is associated with the PML-Q. Besides the internal crisis, the Nawaz League is also facing the fallout of the solo flight, as none of the leading political forces is willing for an alliance or mutual understanding with it in near future.