The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may get a severe political setback in the PPP-dominated Sindh where almost all of the party’s elected representatives have developed strong grievances against their central leadership.
The Nawaz League whereas is deeply engaged with the stratego-economic issues on the federal and international level, its provincial lawmakers in Sindh, breathing hard under immense public pressure, have long been complaining of being “ignored” by their party leadership ruling the country.
Irked by the central leadership’s indifference to the pressing demands of their constituents, the PML-N legislators in the provincial assembly are now seriously weighing different options including their defection to some other political party.
“Generally speaking, there always is a party policy. But they have no policy for Sindh,” said Irfanullah Khan Marwat, PML-N’s parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly.
While Marwat claimed to have all of the party’s provincial legislators on-board, those on the forefront are said to be MPAs Shafi Mohammad Jamot, Humayun Muhammad Khan, Sherazis of Thatta and Dr Badar Channa.
MPA Soorat Thebo though did not like to share with Pakistan Today the “party’s internal issues” but was affirmative to the question of her colleagues’ dejection.
Marwat, a PML-N stalwart, however, minced no words in blasting the party’s central leadership which, he claimed, had long been ignoring its elected members in Sindh province.
“Yes, defection also is a possibility. All options are on the table,” he replied when asked if he was thinking of a split.
In case of defection, the apparent beneficiary, the PML-N insiders claimed, would most probably be the ruling Pakistan People’s Party with which the potential PML-N defectors were negotiating different possibilities including the assignment of advisors’ posts to the latter with the status of ministers.
Jamot, another seasoned politician from PML-N, also confirmed that there was a deeper heart burning among his party fellows in Sindh. “Me and also others have written our reservations to the federal government which is yet to revert,” said he.
About the nature of complaints, Jamot said his were masterly related to the suffering of fishermen at the hands of federal agencies on issues pertaining to the issuance of licenses or the payment of some ill-defined income tax.
“We also have contacted the interior minister (Ch Nisar Ali Khan) on this,” he said, adding Sheerazis of Thatta also were trying to reach the federal government.
Jamot is ready to part ways with the party if its leadership failed to address his concerns. “If I can not serve my constituency, I have no right to stick to the position,” he said.
Humayun Muhammad Khan, who had defected to PML-Q during Musharraf era and again joined PML-N when the “King Party” golden era ended with the political demise of military dictator after Feb 2008 elections, was secretive about the issue. “Rumors keep hovering, you know. There is no such thing,” the MPA told Pakistan Today.
Soorat Thebo, female PML-N lawmaker in Sindh Assembly, said the issue was the party’s internal matter on which she would prefer not to comment.
Dr Badar Channa complained that the party’s “high command” was ignoring the Sindh chapter leaders. “There have been complaints to which the federal government is not heeding,” he said.
Despite being so critical, most of the dissidents in PML-N see the 18th Amendment laws as a major hurdle in their way to form a forward block in the party.
“No forward block can be made after the 18th Amendment,” Jamot told Pakistan Today. Dr Channa too seems to view the constitutional changes as a stumbling block saying under the law any defection would leave the lawmakers concerned seat vacant to be filled through by-polls.
However, the PML-N leader said: “Nothing is impossible in politics and all options are open”.
Marwat was little or not wary of any such legal bar and warned the party leadership against counting on the provisions of 18th Amendment that link the election of a legislator to his party affiliation.
“They must not get deluded by the new laws under 18th Amendment. It can’t bound us. When the time comes we would go for all the options available.”
He reminded Sharifs of the elections in 2002 and 2008 when their party was not able even to win a single seat in Sindh.
“This is because of the new faces that fetch them some seats here (in May 2012 polls),” Marwat said.
The sources close to the development said the dejected PML-N lawmakers were in contact with the ruling PPP which was ready to offer the former some ministries in the face of the posts of advisors.
The 18th Amendment again looks at work here by having restricted the number of federal and provincial cabinets to 11 percent of the legislature’s size.
Ali Akbar Gujjar, PML-N’s information secretary in Sindh, was not available for despite repeated attempts by this reporter.