PML-Q fails to evolve strategy for LFO talks: Cracks appear in leadership
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD, July 24: A special meeting of the PML-Q’s central working committee on Thursday failed to evolve the strategy to be adopted at Sunday’s government-opposition crucial talks on the LFO.
The meeting, which began at around 11:30am, was cut short by one hour when Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali was called to the presidency for a second meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf in two days.
Later, the press was handed over the copies of four resolutions purportedly to have been passed at the meeting, but a majority of the PML-Q members interviewed by Dawn said the resolutions had not been presented at the meeting. The copies were provided by the personal staff of the prime minister on whose initiative the CWC meeting was convened.
The resolutions endorsed Gen Musharraf’s four-nation visit, expressed satisfaction over Indo-Pakistan peace overtures, supported talks with the opposition and condemned the Quetta carnage.
Most of the senior leaders at the meeting chose not to speak, but the majority of those who spoke criticized the government performance over the last eight months and questioned the necessity of the CWC meeting in absence of party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and secretary-general Saleem Saifullah Khan.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was conspicuous by his absence, giving credence to reports that there was a widening rift between Mr Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat over the convening of the two important meetings of the party on the PM’s initiative.
A large number of the CWC members, including members of parliament, either failed to attend or stayed away from the meeting, leading the premier to comment: “It is up to them to attend (the meeting), for our job was to invite them which we have done”.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan from Sialkot invited Mr Jamali’s attention to cold-shouldering of legislators by the district governments and urged him to visit various districts to see people’s plight by himself.
Nisar Mohammad Khan from Peshawar complained that the PM was not even attending phone calls of party workers.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Jamali reiterated his resolve to continue Gen Musharraf’s policies and expressed willingness to step down whenever the party would want him to leave office.
He pointed out that he had set an example by resigning as secretary-general of the party immediately after assuming the office of prime minister.
The premier, perturbed by the criticism over convening of the meeting in absence of the party chief and the secretary-general, said in an angry tone: “If your leaders who were supposed to convene these most important meetings are not available, the process cannot be delayed indefinitely”.
He described the criticism unleashed by members as “planned, sponsored and without reason” and said he would not tolerate such criticism”.
Responding to the charge why the government had failed in reaching a consensus with the opposition during the last eight months, he said: “I was not part of the process in the first six months of negotiations and you will see the results now that I am involved in it”.
Mr Jamali said he had cordial relations with Chaudhry Shujaat and that he had consulted him before convening meetings of the parliamentary party (on Wednesday) and the CWC.
The prime minister declared in unequivocal terms that the government had not reached any deal with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.
A party MNA, Kashmala Tariq, said discussion on the government’s strategy for the talks with opposition was long overdue but, she admitted, neither the strategy was discussed nor any worthwhile proposals were advanced by any member.
