News
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Southern Punjab Unification Bloc MPAs want to rejoin PML-Q* PML-Q leader says will ask party leadership to forgive Unification Bloc members and take them into party fold
By Tariq Farid
LAHORE: Punjab Assembly members of the Unification Bloc from southern Punjab have started making efforts to save their native seats.
Sources told Daily Times that the members were contacting the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for a “respectable return”.
Sources said further a majority of the Unification Bloc MPAs from southern Punjab wished to rejoin the PML-Q, adding that they were contacting the party’s local and provincial leadership in this regard.
“The forward bloc MPAs are in a fix now. As elections are approaching, they are worried about retaining their seats,” said sources.
In case they join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), they are not sure to get party ticket, because the PML-N leaders in the area who stood with the party in difficult times could block their way in getting tickets, they said.
“If they contest the election as independent candidates, it is difficult for them to retain the seat against a PML-N candidate and a PPP-PML-Q joint candidate. So best option left for them is to go back to the PML-Q, with a condition of getting party ticket,” added sources.
Political observers said that as a PPP-PML-Q joint candidate, they would be in a strong position to win the election against a PML-N candidate.
The PPP and the PML-Q had initiated new provinces move for making southern Punjab a separate province. While, the ruling PML-N tried to block the move and had considerably lost support in southern Punjab.
In the current political scenario, it would be difficult for the PML-N candidates to secure more seats, said political observers.
A senior PML-Q leader from southern Punjab said the Unification Bloc members wanted to come back, but they had not cleared their position so far.
“However, if they finally decide to come back, we will ask the party leadership to forgive them and let them join the party again,” he said.
As many as 15 MPAs of the 47-strong Unification Bloc belong to southern Punjab. The Punjab Assembly speaker accepted the identity of the bloc last year and agreed to allot them separate seats in the House and also recognised Dr Tahir Javed as their parliamentary leader.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk