KARACHI, Sept 2: Factional fighting within the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), with ethnic undercurrent, further pushed the once formidable party into backwaters of cosmopolitan politics at the grass-root level, but the other faction of Muslim League, led by Pir Pagara, capitalized on its submission to the Establishment and made inroads in the interior of Sindh at the cost of the PML-Q and the PPP.

Sources within the PML-N told Dawn on condition of anonymity that top leaders of the party in the city, including Sardar Rahim, Saleem Zia, Zahid Rafiq Butt, Nehal Hashmi and Mamnoon Husssain were wavering and could not agree on a common agenda.

The PML-N, which mostly banked on the support of Punjabi-Pakhtoon settlers in Karachi could not keep that support base intact because of differences among the leadership and their lack of faith in those who do not belong to that community.

The PML-N claimed that its 84 councillors were elected in various union councils of Karachi, besides three nazims in Landhi town’s UCs and two in Jamshed Town UCs. The party also claimed naib nazim’s slot in Bin Qasim, Landhi, Baldia, and Site.

But analysts say that PML-N claim appeared to be highly exaggerated in view of claims made by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan People’s Party and Jamat-i-Islami.

In the absence of Mian Nawaz Sharif, the party could not steer clear of the troubled waters and was in total disarray after the second round of local body elections in Sindh.

Observers said that the PML-N had its strong vote bank in Baldia from where late Mian Eijaz Shafi was elected MNA. The party candidates in the past won seats from Manzoor Colony, Hazara Colony, Mehmoodabad, Railway Colony in the Sindh Assembly. However, the party failed to win any seat from even these areas in the LB poll.

The PML-N suffered due to lack of party structure at the lower tier while the top provincial leadership was not seeing eye to eye. On the other hand, the Establishment-backed “Faqirs” made gains in the interior of Sindh. There were complaints against PML-F of serious pre-poll and poll day rigging.

The opposition has not yet proved anything and the Faqir Dost panel of PML-N was now in a position to cinch the top slot of nazim in many areas.

The new entrant in the PML-F, Mr Irfan Gul Magsi, who also enjoys support of PPP’s Sattar Bachani, roosted the PPP-backed Awam Dost panel in the newly-created

PML-N base in Sindh eroded Tando Allahyar district. Irfan Gul Magsi, who also enjoyed PPP support as independent in 2002 elections, had floated the Azad Magsi Ittehad which also enjoyed the backing of Faqir Dost panel. It clinched 16 UCs, out of 19.

In Mirpurkhas district, the Faqir Dost candidates captured 11 UCs out of 41 and in Umerkot district, the group bagged 14 UCs, out of 27, and in the newly create district Tando Mohammad Khan, the Faqir Dost secured one UC, out of 16.

The Faqir Dost Group has made inroads in Matiari district, home-town of President PPP Parliamentarians Makhdoom Amin Fahim, and has won two UCs, out of 19, while the group has extended support to the Jamote Ittehad, which has obtained six UCs.

The Awam Dost panel here got 11 UCs and was in a position to form the district government.

Observers say that in view of the trend in the two phases of the local body elections, PML-N’s support base would be further depleted and the ruling PML-Q and the PPP might be the beneficiary.