ISLAMABAD: A recent meeting between federal Law Minister Babar Awan and Punjab PML-Q chief Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has led to speculations of a possible alliance between their parties but this may not be enough to provide a second lease of life to the Q League in the long run.Background interviews with several PML-Q parliamentarians show that in Punjab the party has been virtually divided into three groups: one group looking for a merger with the PML-N, the second leaning towards the PPP and the third continues to sit on the fence.
But it appears that a majority of the lawmakers will either go for understanding with the ruling PPP or with the opposition PML-N.
The developments in Punjab are going to decide the future of the party nationwide, because out of 49 PML-Q members in the National Assembly 27 are from the province.
“Each one of us has already started charting out our possible future course of action,” a lawmaker said. Claiming that the PML-Q parliamentarians were desperately running around to secure their constituencies in the next elections, a party insider gave the example of Khanewal where his party had three MNAs and all of them were making different political moves because of their own compulsions.
Mohammad Raza Hayat Hiraj from NA-156 dumped the PPP after the 2002 elections to jump onto Gen Pervez Musharraf’s bandwagon.
Having won the 2008 election on a PML-Q ticket, he is at the moment in search of his future political orientation.
And having got the message that the PPP will not welcome members of the PPP (Patriots) such as him who played a critical role during the Musharraf rule (Hiraj was a federal minister), he has been left with no option but to look towards the PML-N.
According to reports, he has met Hussain Nawaz, the elder son of PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, in London a couple of times.
Pir Aslam Bodla from NA-158 has more choices. Not only is he a veteran PPP member, he also kept a low profile during 2002-08. This is why he can join the PPP.
That the party leadership is going to welcome him is evident from the fact that he has accepted the chairmanship of a NA standing committee without seeking permission from his party chief.
Hamid Yar Hiraj from NA-157 is keeping his options open simply because he can. Not only did he win in 2002 as an independent candidate (he later joined the Q League), he also enjoys links with the PPP because his late father was elected to the Punjab Assembly in the past on the party ticket.
Similar trends can be observed in other parts of the province. For example, Riaz Hussain Pirzada from Bahawalpur is looking towards the PML-N.
And he can do so because one of his nephews, Mian Mohammad Kazim Ali Pirzada, won an election for a provincial seat as an independent candidate and then joined the PML-N on his uncle’s advice. This has kept doors open for Pirzada.
MNA Sardar Bahadur Ahmed Khan Sihar from Bahawalpur has met President Zardari and reportedly garnered an assurance for a party ticket in the next elections.
Khwaja Sheraz Mahmood from Dera Ghazi Khan has also been given the leadership of a standing committee of the National Assembly. This indicates that he will support the party in the future.
On the other hand, Sheikh Waqas Akram from Jhang is eyeing the PML-N in view of its influence in his area.
At the same time, both parties are also deciding about accepting ‘turncoats’ on the basis of political expediency. Consider Raja Jawaid Ikhlas, a former nazim of Rawalpindi, who has recently rejoined the PML-N. This will give a big boost to the party because his son Raja Qasim Jawaid Ikhlas gave a tough fight to PPP’s Raja Ashraf in NA-51.
This, it is noteworthy, is the only seat the PPP won in Rawalpindi city which was otherwise swept by the PML-N.
On this seat, experts felt that the Muslim League votes had been divided which led to the PPP’s win, as Chaudhry Mohammad Riaz of the PML-N had secured 54,000 votes.
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