0
KARACHI, Nov 25 In a dramatic development, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, Pir Saheb Pagara, unexpectedly declared his support to Syed Sardar Ahmed, a nominee of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, for the office of the chief minister, apparently in his bid put a barrier in the way of Arbab Rahim, fielded by the Grand National Alliance.
Pir Pagara’s move may deal a serious blow to the efforts of the GNA as well as the PPP Parliamentarians which are vying for the top slot. The PPP may feel the shock deeper as it has emerged as the single largest party in the House.
Talking to newsmen after his meeting with an MQM delegation at Kingri House on Monday, Pir Pagara said that his party and the MQM would succeed in forming a stable government in Sindh citing ‘forward blocs’ within the PPP which, he claimed, were in making. He indicated that the forward bloc members of the assembly would join the constellation.
The PML-F chief recalled that his party had nominated Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah for the top slot. He, however, clarified that it makes no difference if the CM came from the MQM or PML-F. He confirmed that he had assured the MQM of his party’s support to Syed Sardar Ahmed.
He unequivocally rejected Arbab Rahim for the post and described him as ‘desert crow’. At the same time, he expressed his support for Gen Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali.
About his talks with the PPP, the Pir said that the purpose of negotiations were not intended to lend them support. “On the contrary, it was the other way round,” he added. He mentioned that he had earlier given the Sindh chief of PPP, Nisar Khuhro, three days to settle the matter but he failed to do so. Therefore, he said, the PML-F decided to support the MQM.
To a question, Pir Pagara he indicated that the formation of government in Sindh would not be tackled in a manner it had been done at the Centre. “In Sindh, only Quaid-i-Azam matters, and not the Quaid-i-Azam League,” he declared.
During the talks between the two parties, the MQM delegation was led by Dr Farooq Sattar and included Nasreen Jaleel and Syed Sardar Ahmad while Pir Saheb Pagara was assisted Bostan Ali Hoti.
On his part, Dr Farooq Sattar described the PML-F decision as the most important development. He said that more meetings would be held with the PML-F to work out modalities of future cooperation.
Despite a red-signal from the power-brokers who matter in the Sindh politics and enjoy direct links with the powers that be, Arbab Rahim seemed determined to go ahead with his crusade damaged by the PML-F decision.
Pir Pagara, in his meeting with the GNA delegation, had flatly refused to accept Dr Arbab Rahim as an acceptable candidate for the post. Questioning credentials of the man from Thar, the Pir felt upset over the GNA’s insistence on Dr Rahim’s candidature and had declined to support him.
Shaikh Mairaj, General Secretary of the PML-F, while talking to newsmen at an Iftar dinner hosted by Muzaffar Shujra, said that Pir Saheb had also conveyed this to some very important person who telephoned him from Islamabad.
Sources said that Pir Saheb’s opposition to Dr Rahim’s candidature could be linked with the concern expressed by ‘sensitive quarters’. The Pir had also insisted on his own nominee, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, he said.
Meanwhile, the MQM delegation also held talks with the GNA at the residence of Imtiaz Shaikh. Talking briefly to newsmen, Mr Shaikh said that the talks would continue and made it clear that “as of now Arbab’s candidature has not been reversed.”
Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party had made efforts for serving as a bridge between rural and urban people of Sindh. It would continue its effort for a consensus candidate, he added.
With regard to parlays with the PPP, he said they were of informal nature and alleged that the PPP was not serious in striking a deal.
PPP NAMES NISAR: The PPP Parliamentarians formally nominated Nisar Khuhro as its parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at Bilawal House during which various options were discussed, sources said.
The meeting also took stock of the situation arising out of the formation of the PPP Patriots by the party defectors who still regard Ms Benazir Bhutto as their leader.
The meeting was also briefed on the status of the party’s negotiations with the MMA, PML-F and MQM.
The acting secretary general of PPP, Raza Rabbani, claimed that all the 67 members of the party were present in the meeting in which the PPP chairperson, Ms Benazir Bhutto, in consultation with the Parliamentarians’ chief, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, gave consent to Nisar Khuhro’s nomination as the parliamentary leader.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rabbani said that it was a difficult decision to take in view of the sacrifices of some senior members.
He also rejected as ‘disinformation’ news reports that the forward bloc was clandestinely created by the party itself or had the blessing of Ms Bhutto. He said that the defectors were deliberately trying to malign Ms Bhutto.
The insiders, however, wondered why a categorical statment had not been issued by Ms Bhutto and why punitive action had not been taken yet against the defectors, who include senior members of the PPP CEC. They noted that the defectors had renamed their group as the PPP Patriots.
This was in sharp contrast to what the PPP had done when a situation had developed with regard to Makhdoom Khaleeq.
Meanwhile, some insiders also said that in order to fetch the top slot, the PPP might spring a surprise, on the pattern of National Assembly. Initially it was suggested that Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman could become a compromise candidate. But this possibility remained remote as, on Monday, he lent unequivocal support to Nisar Khuhro who enjoys the backing of Ms Bhutto and Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
