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| August 16, 2005 | Tuesday | Rajab 10, 1426 |
LG polls expose lack of discipline
ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: The forthcoming local government elections have exposed lack of discipline in all political parties, particularly those in the opposition, as local leaders have made seat adjustments with all groups according to their personal convenience ignoring the directives of party leaderships.
People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), the two major component parties of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), have even made seat adjustments with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and its other coalition partners in violation of the decision taken by the main ARD leadership in a meeting held in Islamabad on June 27.
Briefing the reporters after the meeting, ARD Secretary- General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had said that the PPP and the PML-N had decided to fully participate in the local government elections and agreed to not only have seat adjustments between them but also with the component parties of the alliance and other opposition groups.
He had stated that it had been left to the leadership at divisional and provincial level to make seat adjustments with any opposition party at local level. He had categorically said that it had been made clear to the parties’ lower leadership that seat adjustments could not be made with the ruling PML or any of its coalition partner in any case.
On the other hand, sources told Dawn that the PPP and the PML-N had not only made seat adjustments with the coalition partners of the government but also with the ruling PML. The sources said the PPP had agreed on seat adjustments with PML-Functional of Pir Pagara in some union councils of Khairpur in Sindh.
Similarly, they said, both the PPP and the PML-N were supporting the PML in union councils of Chakwal. The candidates of both the parties are even supporting PML vice-president Abdul Majeed Malik and his candidates in Chakwal and adjoining areas. They said a large number of PPP candidates had withdrawn in favour of the PML candidates in Talagang.
The sources said the PPP had also made seat adjustments with the component parties of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in some areas in the NWFP. Though the MMA is not a part of the government at the centre, it is ruling the NWFP where the PPP is sitting on the opposition benches.
Moreover, the PPP has been reluctant in joining hands with the MMA for launching a movement against the regime, but at the same time it is contesting elections with them at the union council level. Similarly, the MMA has also made seat arrangements with the PML, which is also sitting on the opposition benches in the province.
There are also reports from various parts of Punjab, including Murree and Rawalpindi, where the PPP has joined hands with the ruling party. Similarly, the PML-N has also reportedly made adjustments with the ruling party in Multan, Sheikhupura and DG Khan.
When contacted for official comments, PPP Sindh Secretary General Nafees Siddiqi said it was true that the party had made some arrangements with the ruling coalition partners. He, however, said that such “incidents” do happen due to the large size of the party. Moreover, he said, when the party leadership was abroad, it lost some grip.
“When your leader is commanding the party while sitting abroad, such things are expected,” he said.
PML-N information secretary Siddiqul Farooque when asked to confirm such reports, said of course facts could not be denied.
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