After resolving the internal bickering and party President Senator Salim Saifullah Khan sacrificing his post in favour of Arbab Ghulam Rahim, the PML-Likeminded group has geared up efforts to finalise a formal alliance with the PML-N, Pakistan Today has reliably learnt.
A party leader told Pakistan Today that Saifullah, who was due to be replaced after serving a two-year term as the party head, had voluntarily stepped down to accommodate former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who had developed serious differences with the party and was set to join Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).
“We have succeeded in wooing back the support of Arbab Rahim, whose group has a strong presence in Sindh Assembly and has won support of another PML-Q MPA Nuzhat Pathan,” the likeminded leader said. A PML-N source privy to the details said both factions of the PML, “N” and Likeminded – were heading towards an alliance, as talks had entered a final stage and a formal announcement was likely in the next fortnight.
“The PML-N leadership is desperate to get a foothold in Sindh Assembly, where they have no presence, while the likeminded group is strong in Sindh Assembly. Moreover, the PML-N wants Saifullah to help its Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter due to his strong influence there,” the source added. He said in principal, an alliance had been decided between the two factions, but PML-N leadership was reluctant to give seat adjustment assurances in the constituencies of Likeminded Chairman Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha and Secretary General Humayon Akhtar Khan, where PML-N candidates had won in 2008 election. “Senator Salim Saifullah Khan held a meeting last week with Ishaq Dar at Punjab House. The next meeting is likely in the next fortnight, which would be final and a formal announcement is likely to follow,” the source added. The source said the PML-N leadership was pressing the Salim Saifullah and Arbab Rahim groups to merge with its ranks, however, likeminded leaders wanted to keep their options open due to fluid political situation. A source in the PML-Likeminded said the party would formally elect Arbab Ghulam Rahim the president in a meeting to be held at the residence of Humayon Akhtar Khan on January 4, which would be followed by a formal announcement. When contacted, Salim Saifullah Khan confirmed that his party had decided to elect Arbab Ghulam Rahim as president.
Saifullah, however, said his group had other options if talks failed with the PML-N. “But let me tell you that 90 percent issues have been resolved and an announcement is likely in the next fortnight,” he asserted.
Likeminded chief organiser Senator Ghaffar Qureshi, asked whether his party was going to join the PTI, Qureshi said all matters regarding their reservations with the party leadership had been resolved and Arbab Ghulam Rahim had accepted the party’s top slot.