Q leaders join PML-N after meeting Nawaz

[Devil Soul]

Q leaders join PML-N after meeting Nawaz
By: Sajid Zia | Published: November 24, 2011
LAHORE – PML-N President Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with PML-Q leaders Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Majeed Malik, former minister for state Maj (r) Tahir Iqbal and Aslam Sathi at his residence here Wednesday.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Ch Nisar Ali, Senator Sartaj Aziz and MNA Hamza Shahbaz were also present on the occasion.
During the meeting political matters, current situation, threat to national security after Memo allegations, and joining of the visitors with the PML-N came under discussion, as per the party sources. They expressed their determination to fully cooperate with PML-N in its struggle for the promotion of constitutional norms and strengthening of democracy under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
Majeed Malik and Tahir Iqbal who had been affiliated with the PML-Q during the Musharraf government expressed their mind to join the N-League which in the recent past has opened doors to those clean politicians who supported the Musharraf government as part of Q-League not by choice but compulsion.
Sources say that the PML-N is positively thinking over taking the said leaders in the party folds. Majeed Malik joined PML in 1980s and thrice served as federal minister in the governments of Muhammad Khan Junejo and Nawaz Sharif. He was also elected member of the National Assembly four times in a row. After dismissal of Sharif government, Malik was wooed into PML-Q which Musharraf had architected to create a political constituency for himself. During the Local Government election in 2005, differences occurred between Malik and then Chief Minister, Pervez Elahi, when he had defied the latter candidate in District Chakwal. This cost him lost of contest in the election on the plea of his academic qualification. The said leader hails from Pothohar belt of the Punjab where PML-N enjoys a notable support.
Before meeting of the trio, chief of his own faction, PML-Z Ijazul Haq had also called on Nawaz Sharif on Monday where he expressed his desire to join the PML-N besides discussing other matters and national issues. The same day, Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi, son of spiritual leader of the Hurr, Pir Pagara along with PML-F Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood had also met Nawaz Sharif. Observers viewed these meetings a preamble to the unification of PML factions in the current situation when all the said parties feel the present PPP government under Zardari plagued with corruption and threat to the country as such ridding of it is a must. In a later development on Tuesday Pir Pagara had ruled out an early unification of the Leagues however without outright rejecting its possibility. PML-N delegation under Ghous Ali Shah is also expected to see Pir Pagara in Karachi soon.
Observers say PML-N pressure on the government on the memo issue has renewed attraction of the PML-N for the politicians who either were sitting on the fence or had no role against the PML-N during the Musharraf regime. The party, which is struggling against Zardari-led government, is also gearing up for early election or any other set up whose likelihood has brightened given the current situation at the political level on account of memo issue.
Q leaders join PML-N after meeting Nawaz | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

 

[Omar1984]

Qureshi meets Nawaz, but keeps options open

LAHORE: The much-awaited meeting between Shah Mehmood Qureshi and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, which assumed added significance because of a claim made by Imran Khan that the former foreign minister would be joining his party, took place here on Tuesday.

PML-N sources told Dawn that the former minister was still keeping his options open and asked for time to “consult members of his group before making up his mind”.

The PML-N never expected him to join the party in the first meeting which had taken place despite Imran Khan’s claim that Mr Qureshi would be joining the PTI.

“The PML-N is happy to keep Mr Qureshi engaged and Imran Khan guessing,” said the sources.

According to people close to Mr Qureshi, the former foreign minister might not join the PTI because he was considering two options—forming his own party or joining the PML-N.

He was embarrassed by Imran Khan’s claim about his joining the PTI, which was not the case because he is yet to take a final decision.

The sources said the PTI chief possibly did not comprehend the line of Mr Qureshi’s thinking.

“Mr Qureshi has been a foreign minister and a successful one. Now he is looking beyond that post. Neither the PTI nor the PML-N is in a position to offer him anything beyond that. That is precisely where Mr Qureshi is stuck,” the sources said.

Although he is meeting everyone to add political weight to his person, he is still assessing the situation.

“We will not be surprised if the much-trumpeted Ghotki meeting is postponed for some later date,” they said.

PML-N insiders believe that the PTI option was not being seriously considered by Mr Qureshi.

Their assessment is based on the activities of Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood who may himself join the PML-N.

It was the Makhdoom, one of the powerful politicians from south Punjab, who brought a son of Pir Pagara to meet Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday and then lobbied in the party also for Mr Qureshi.

“The Makhdoom has been instrumental in weaning Mr Qureshi away from the PTI and getting him closer to the PML-N,” says one of the PML-N insiders.

The problem with the PML-N is that it has nothing substantial to offer.

“If some common point is reached within next week or so, Mr Qureshi will jump to the PML-N bandwagon or else capitalise on his Sindh connection where he has huge spiritual following to form his own party,” the sources said.

Talking to reporters after his meeting with Mr Sharif, Mr Qureshi criticised the PPP government and said it had lost moral authority, both in the country and abroad. “No-one takes this government seriously anymore. It is time for the opposition to resign from the assemblies, which have lost their meaning and utility, and go to the people.” Mr Qureshi kept evading questions about his political future and said: “Everything will be made public on Nov 27.”


Qureshi meets Nawaz, but keeps options open | Newspaper | DAWN.COM