Former Federal Minister and an active leader of PML(N) Khawaja Saad Rafique has said that the party is trying to establish a political alliance in Sindh and has reached out to the JUI(F) and Pir Sahab Pagara of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) in this regard. Talking to newsmen in Karachi after visiting MQM-P’s Bahadurabad Office as part of a PMLN delegation, he said the PML(N) would correct the mistakes that had been made in the past and socio-political relationships would be promoted. He said the PMLN was making political and social contacts in Karachi.
A flurry of activities taking place in Karachi indicate that hectic efforts are being made to revitalize the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) as part of the strategy to counter the political influence of the PPP both in rural and urban Sindh. What Khawaja Saad Rafique said was reflective of another important political development in the province as a few days back a three-member delegation of MQM-P comprising Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal held a meeting with PML(N) top brass in Lahore and agreed to develop alignment for the upcoming general election scheduled to be held in February 2024. Earlier, PML(F) and JUI(F) also held extensive consultations to forge an anti-PPP alliance in the province. In this backdrop, it was but quite natural for the PPP leadership to issue anti-PML(N) statements and make claims about their political strength in the province. PPP’s concerns about inroads being made by PML(N) in Sindh are untenable as there was no bar on any political party to mobilize public opinion or enter into alliances with other like-minded parties in any part of the country. If PPP can lay a claim in Punjab, talk about possible electoral cooperation with the PTI to the disadvantage of PML(N) then why can’t PML(N) try to improve its electoral position in Sindh or any other province. Alliances are always welcome as these allow formation of broad-based governments but our history shows our leaders and parties make no sincere effort to remove irritants for the sake of long-term partnership. The PML(N) claims to be focusing on the preparation of a comprehensive manifesto that would address the problems and concerns of the people of Karachi and interior Sindh. This manifesto is intended to form a sound basis for a cooperative partnership with other political parties. PML(N) is also trying to forge a similar understanding with other political forces in Punjab and PML(Q) has already hinted at the possibility of seat adjustment with the party. Mian Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Balochistan and plans to visit KP could also bring more clarity to the evolving political situation. There is possibility of some understanding with Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) which has better prospects in South Punjab as a number of former leaders of PTI have joined the new party to save their political future. Former Federal Minister and Chief Minister KP Parvez Khattak has also attracted a large number of former MNAs and MPAs from KP to his new party Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (Parliamentarians). It is to be seen which party succeeds in enlisting support of the PTI(P), Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUI(F) and ANP in the forthcoming elections. Political analysts believe that as PTI might not be in a position to take part fully in the elections, PPP is trying to influence the PTI voter by its anti-PML(N) rhetoric. Though Raja Riaz, while talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Sunday, claimed the PML(N) was not in a position to accommodate other candidates, there is an impression that the party has opened its doors for the so-called electables in its bid to secure a two-third majority in the general election. This policy of welcoming electables serves parties in the short term but none of them could retain them when tables turned. The tendency to award tickets to those who change their loyalties so frequently and that too at the cost of old and committed workers is one of the causes of free for all politics in the country. All mainstream parties were ditched at some point of history by turn-coats and they should, therefore, focus attention on those who offered sacrifices for the cause of democracy and constitutionalism.
