News
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
PML-N rushes to woo estranged members
Staff Report
LAHORE: In order to avoid further dissent within the party, following the growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has decided to mend strained relations with party workers and leaders on an emergency basis, sources said on Monday.
According to sources, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has asked party leaders to bring back estranged members and make efforts to retain them in the party. Sources said that Nawaz Sharif expressed these views while chairing a meeting attended by senior PML-N leaders in Lahore, during which a number of important decisions were made, along with that of bringing back disillusioned workers.
Sources added that Sharif instructed party leaders to contact PML-N assembly members and others who currently have differences with the leadership and are contemplating joining the PTI.
The PML-N leadership had earlier claimed that PTI chief Imran Khan would not succeed in luring any prominent leaders to his party, but the defection of PML-N’s senior vice president Javed Hashmi to the PTI was a major blow.
Hashmi’s departure shook the PML-N, which is now trying to hold back others who are also looking to jump onto the PTI bandwagon. Nawaz has asked Chaudhry Nisar, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar and Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa to personally meet disgruntled party members and address their concerns.
According to sources, PML-N leader and ex-National Assembly member Inamullah Niazi has also decided to join the PTI. Sources say that Niazi had differences with the party leadership, which could not be resolved. Niazi was closely associated with the party leadership, particularly Shahbaz Sharif.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk