The efforts of the leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded to join the PML-Nawaz finally bore fruit on Thursday as both factions of the Muslim League moved one step forward towards unification by announcing formation of an opposition alliance.
Since breakup with the Chaudhrys in July 2009, the leaders of the PML-Likeminded have been trying for a unification with the PML-N individually or from the platform of the Muttahida Muslim League – a four party alliance of PML factions formed last year – but their efforts to sneak into the PML-N folds were time and again blocked by the hawks in Nawaz Sharif’s party, who were against shaking hands with Pervez Musharraf’s aides.
The PML-Q’s decision of joining the PPP-led coalition government played a major role in melting the ice between the two factions as the move pushed the Sharifs to soften their stance towards their erstwhile companions who opted to work with the former president after the 1999 coup. The central leaders from both parties including PML-Likeminded President Salim Saifullah, Secretary General Humayon Akhtar, Senator Ghaffar Qureshi, PML-N’s Sartaj Aziz, Ishaq Dar, Mehtab Abbasi and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra met to chalk out a strategy for the reunion of both factions of the Muslim League.
A source in the PML-Likeminded said both parties decided to first make an alliance and gradually move towards unification. Saifullah also had an exclusive meeting with Nawaz last Monday in which both leaders agreed in principle to bridge gulfs between the two factions. Talking to Pakistan Today, Humayon Akhtar Khan said, “It is an alliance of two opposition parties. Other opposition parties which agree with our agenda can join the alliance,” he said.
Asked whether it was an electoral alliance, Humayon replied, “Elections are far away. This alliance can be an electoral alliance but these matters will be decided at the time of the election.” Talking to reporters after the meeting, Saifullah and Dar said the matter of PML Likeminded and the PML-Q was pending in the Lahore High Court so both parties had decided to retain their separate identities despite agreement on forming an alliance.
Zia dismissed Junejo government on May 29, 1988. Did Nawaz stand with his party leader Junejo? No. Nawaz did not waste any time, immediately became a lota, took oath as Acting CM Punjab. So, he should not have had any complaints against those who abandoned him after he was toppled by Musharraf (which was validated by SC including Iftikhar Chaudhry) and also after he left in the middle of the night from Attock to Jeddah palace with a treasureload of two planes. (One can well imagine 56 jumbo size trunks did not contain atta, dal, sooji, etc).
Now, the opportunists are trying to get together again. As long as we pursue Unionist style politics, our political future is not good. It is only that media is very kind to the Sharifs. Otherwise, if they start playing sound clips of various things they have been saying since last many many years, people will be able to look at their true faces. Of course, PPP leaders are not the ones to be spared by media.
Are these Old men (youngest age is 70.. i think) going to rule our country ??
Where are the youths ?
Business Class pedigreed politicians have now clubbed them selves together. These Nana jeez and Dada Jeez need some rest and look after their grand children rather than playing any game of attrition and somersaults.
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