News
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Disinclined PML-N likely to cause setback to MQM’s APC* PML-N sees ulterior motives behind move
* Party says fresh election is solution to country’s problems
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) move to convene an all-parties’ conference on national issues is likely to suffer a setback as the top leadership of the largest opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is not inclined to be part of any such venture, which it believes has some ulterior motives.
The MQM, which has been reaching out to different political parties in the country in the recent days regarding its all-parties’ conference, also tried to approach PML-N President Nawaz Sharif through Senator Ishaq Dar, a central leader of the PML-N and a close aide of Sharif.
Ports and Shipping Minister Baber Khan Ghauri, an important leader of the MQM, had asked Dar for a meeting with Sharif, according to a senator of the party who revealed this to Daily Times, requesting anonymity. The request for the meeting was made on the same day when an MQM delegation met Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) top leadership in Mansoora, the senator said.
When asked about the response of the PML-N to the MQM’s request, he said the top leadership of the PML-N was not interested at all to be part of any venture of the MQM, which is an ally of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and has often been held equally responsible for the “misdeeds” of the government.
However, the PML-N’s second-tier leadership may participate in the MQM’s all-parties’ conference, whenever it is convened, as a goodwill gesture.
During the last few days, the MQM reached out to its arch rivals, the JI and Awani National Party (ANP), as well as the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), and would meet with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leadership today (Saturday).
Sources said the PML-N has many apprehensions about the MQM as in the past it has ditched the opposition in critical time when the government was under pressure.
They further said that apart from the bitter experience of the past, the PML-N was cautious over this move of the MQM as the reasons being given for the conference held no substance.
“If Pakistan has any serious external threat, why is the MQM making hue and cry. Why the supreme commander of forces, the chief executive of the country and the foreign minister didn’t say a single word about it,” asked a PML-N member.
“The PML-N believes that the MQM has launched the move on the behest of President Asif Ali Zardari to save his sinking ship by creating external-threats drama,” said a source.
PML-N sources said that fresh election was the only solution to the prevailing problems of the country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk