Muqam turns top wheeler dealer for PML-N in KP

Facing serious hurdles from within the party ranks, former federal minister Engineer Amir Muqam is making Pakistan Muslim League-N a strong political force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by getting benefits from anomalies and shortfalls of ruling coalition partners.
Pakistan Today came to know through highly-placed sources that Muqam had initiated efforts for reconciling of PML-N dissidents. Beside others, former PML-N secretary general and former senator Saranjam Khan and former provincial minister Abdul Subhan Khan are prominent among the dissidents. In this respect, Muqam is going to visit residences of these dissidents in the coming few days. Similarly, Muqam has made his mind for holding meetings and contacts with all those leaguers who were either inactive or reluctant to take part in activities due to what they called negative and unrealistic policies of PML-N provincial leaders, particularly Sahibzada Pir Sabir Sah and Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbassi.
A couple of days ago, Muqam traveled to Southern Bannu and Karak districts accompanied by Farid Toofan to have meetings with party dissidents and in-active political figures. Sources close to Muqam said they made too many achievements by blocking a number of families, who had already decided to quit the party, from joining others. Similar is Muqam’s strategy for Malakand Division, where he has focused attentions on dissidents of the Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party.
As a result of his efforts, Haji Niaz Mohammad, an active and diehard figure of Pakistan People’s Party from Surezai area of Peshawar, on Friday announced joining the PML-N along with his kith and kin.
Mohammad’s disassociation has not only affected the PPP, it has confused the ANP leadership that holds a strong position in that part of Peshawar.
Muqam intends to contest elections from NA-4 Peshawar, therefore, he is giving maximum importance to activities and masses’ mobilization in that particular constituency.
Beside re-activating and reconciling party dissidents and encouraging disassociation from the PPP and ANP, Muqam is also making attempts to create cracks within the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
In this respect, sources said Muqam contacted Nawabzada Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti. Following differences with ANP leadership in early 2009, Hoti joined the PTI in December 2011.
But he is now reportedly uncomfortable in the PTI and making up his mind for another flight.
If he wins support of Hoti, Saranjam Khan and Abdul Subhan Khan, Muqam could make hard the elections game for the leaders of both the ANP and PPP in Mardan district.
Similarly, Muqam has also initiated steps for restoring the lost image of PML-N in Hazara region where the party is in trouble since the second quarter of 2010. On the issue of renaming of province, most of leaguers are unhappy with the PML-N, therefore, they joined hands with traditional rival of Nawaz Sharif, Baba Haider Zaman.
A strong group of Gohar Ayub Khan and Amanullah Jadoon is also part of other factions and parties. Muqam, however, is working hard to woo back these leaders.
According to party insiders, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has given a free hand to Engineer Amir Muqam for ensuring the party’s victory in next general elections.