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By Vidya Rana
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is losing his grip over his own party, as serious differences have developed between him and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab chief minister, in recent weeks.
Sources close to the PML-N leadership told Daily Times that Nawaz was increasingly unhappy with his brother for clinging to, what he believes, provincial-level politics.
Shahbaz is trying to woo his Punjab Assembly MPAs with promises of a five-year term in office, against the wishes of Nawaz, who believes that mid-term elections are the need of the hour, the sources said.
The sources added that the recent Mastikhel-saga has deepened the already simmering differences between the Sharif brothers and their respective supporters.
The chief (Nawaz) is very well aware of the fact that being a quaid (chief) does not guarantee the power to call the shots, which is why, he desperately wants to make a comeback to the national political stage. However, a few influential confidants of Shahbaz have become a major stumbling block in his way, said the sources.
According to the sources, Shahbaz has argued privately that the PML-N should stick to the current political arrangement and keep its Punjab rule intact, instead of going for any adventures in the name of national politics.
The situation has become very precarious as the PML-N vote bank has shrunk over the last one year, especially in southern Punjab. Mid-term elections will only add to the miseries of the PML-N, said the sources.
Even Saeed Akbar Khan Nawani, who vacated his seat PP-48 Bhakkar II for Shahbaz, has become highly critical of the Punjab governments policies towards southern districts of the province.
During the general elections 2008, Shahbaz Sharif could secure only one vote against Nawani who contested the election as an independent candidate from two constituencies and defeated the PML-N.
However, he vacated the PP-48 for Shahbaz after striking a deal with the PML-N, which allowed Shahbaz to get elected unopposed.
The sources said that Nawaz had been trying to convince his aides that sticking to just one province would not do any good to the PML-Ns future. He wants to take a principled stance on the issue of fake degrees by kicking the unwanted elements out of the party because he believes that if this is not done, the party may risk its credibility and might lose public support by the time the next general elections come, the source said.
A number of other Punjab MPAs, when contacted, termed Nawaz their quaid, but added in the same breath that they would only pay heed to CM Shahbaz, who, they said, was the legal head of the party.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is losing his grip over his own party, as serious differences have developed between him and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab chief minister, in recent weeks.
Sources close to the PML-N leadership told Daily Times that Nawaz was increasingly unhappy with his brother for clinging to, what he believes, provincial-level politics.
Shahbaz is trying to woo his Punjab Assembly MPAs with promises of a five-year term in office, against the wishes of Nawaz, who believes that mid-term elections are the need of the hour, the sources said.
The sources added that the recent Mastikhel-saga has deepened the already simmering differences between the Sharif brothers and their respective supporters.
The chief (Nawaz) is very well aware of the fact that being a quaid (chief) does not guarantee the power to call the shots, which is why, he desperately wants to make a comeback to the national political stage. However, a few influential confidants of Shahbaz have become a major stumbling block in his way, said the sources.
According to the sources, Shahbaz has argued privately that the PML-N should stick to the current political arrangement and keep its Punjab rule intact, instead of going for any adventures in the name of national politics.
The situation has become very precarious as the PML-N vote bank has shrunk over the last one year, especially in southern Punjab. Mid-term elections will only add to the miseries of the PML-N, said the sources.
Even Saeed Akbar Khan Nawani, who vacated his seat PP-48 Bhakkar II for Shahbaz, has become highly critical of the Punjab governments policies towards southern districts of the province.
During the general elections 2008, Shahbaz Sharif could secure only one vote against Nawani who contested the election as an independent candidate from two constituencies and defeated the PML-N.
However, he vacated the PP-48 for Shahbaz after striking a deal with the PML-N, which allowed Shahbaz to get elected unopposed.
The sources said that Nawaz had been trying to convince his aides that sticking to just one province would not do any good to the PML-Ns future. He wants to take a principled stance on the issue of fake degrees by kicking the unwanted elements out of the party because he believes that if this is not done, the party may risk its credibility and might lose public support by the time the next general elections come, the source said.
A number of other Punjab MPAs, when contacted, termed Nawaz their quaid, but added in the same breath that they would only pay heed to CM Shahbaz, who, they said, was the legal head of the party.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
