LAHORE, Feb 26: Over two dozen MPAs-elect of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q are likely to form a forward bloc to ‘ensure’ a place in the PML-N-led future set-up in the province.

Some of the independent legislatures who joined the PML-N on Tuesday told Dawn that Najaf Abbas Sial, a PML-Q MPA-elect from Jhang, had been making efforts to converge them on the new platform. An MPA-elect said that a total of 24 PML-Q legislatures were interested to join the forward bloc while another claimed that its number could be even up to 40. “The announcement in this regard is expected shortly,” he added.

Punjab PML-Q general-secretary Chaudhry Zaheeruddin told Dawn that it was quite difficult for an opposition party to stop defections. He confirmed that some efforts were being made to form a forward bloc but maintained that such a large number of MPAs-elect of his party would not join any such bloc.

Zaheeruddin said the situation was more or less like that of 1988 and it was very unfortunate that the PML-N leaders had not learnt from the past and were again involved in ‘horse-trading’, which would not set a good example to follow. On the other hand, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif dispelled the impression that his party was making efforts to carve out a forward bloc in the PML-Q. However, he clarified that his party would welcome PML-Q legislatures in the form of ‘a forward bloc’.

Najaf Sial was not available for his comment.

Three former PML-Q stalwarts were prominent among the 22 independent members who joined the PML-N on Tuesday.

They are Col Shujaa Khanzada (retired), former minister for Chief Minister’s Inspection Team, Asif Saeed Manis, the former Punjab Public Accounts Committee chairman, and former parliamentary secretary Waris Kalu.

Around 40 residents of Minchnaabad tehsil in Bahawalnagar gathered outside the residence of Sharif in Model Town to protest the acceptance of PML-Q MPA-elect Khadim Wattoo in the party.

They urged the PML-N leaders not to take Wattoo back in the party, as he had been involved in the land grabbing and dragging his political opponents in fake cases. “We are not allowed to meet the PML-N leadership to convey our grievances,” Union Council 106 Nazim Tariq Usman later told reporters.