Why PML-N ditched the Likeminded

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

LAHORE, April 21: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz denied favour to the Likeminded faction for the PML-N president suspected group’s loyalties.

“Nawaz Sharif felt that he would be carrying along a ‘forward bloc’ from the day one if he accommodated the Likeminded in the elections,” reveals a senior PML-N official who was part of the parliamentary board that decided the fate of party candidates for the general election.

According to him, Nawaz Sharif did not accept recommendation of his family members as well as other party leaders considered close to him about a known woman leader of the group.

Defending the party chief policy, he argued that suspecting loyalties of the group comprising PML-Q defectors was not wrong and subsequent events proved it right.

He said after denial of the PML-N ticket, a Likeminded leader from Lahore had approached the Chaudhrys of Gujrat to seek his return to the Q League.

The frustrated leader was ready even to seek forgiveness in a press conference for his ‘sin’ of defection, but Pervaiz Elahi did not accept him, the official claimed.

He admitted that Likeminded members were kept engaged and denied tickets at the 11th hour to avert any damage by their joining of rival parties.

Answering a question about seat adjustment with the Jamaat-i-Islami in Punjab, the PML-N official said they were ready to accommodate the JI on three National Assembly seats – Liaquat Baloch in Lahore, Dr Waseem Akhtar in Bahawalpur and Asghar Gujjar in Layyah – but the JI laid claim on 12 seats.

He said Baloch could be accommodated even today provided the JI promised withdrawing all other candidates against PML-N nominees.

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Apr 23, 2013 06:40pm

I couldn't agree with you more, I too don't live in Pakistan but my heart beats with it. When I see live TV shows with anchors interviewing common people and when they are who they would vote for and they say , they would vote for one party or the other just because they built roads bridges or hospitals my heart sinks. The decades of keeping the masses illiterate and hand to mouth is paying dividends for those politicans who were responsible for it. Unfortunately these millions of illiterates have not been able to develop the real political sense to understand real issues facing the country , they are not able to think beyond superficial uplifts of their immediate environment in form of new roads , bridges and plazas. It's like handing a lollipop to appease a child. Clever politicans have been able to do just that.

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Pro Truth

Apr 22, 2013 11:49pm

Dont think so, Nawaz Sharif doesnt do politics on principles but he only played game with Hum Khiyals at the end denting his own trustworthiness, after it will not be last time he had to shake hands with hum khiyals or league fellows. But people who are not loyal to party or a principle, it served them right, but here he played like Zardari though!

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Akram

Apr 22, 2013 03:38pm

Nawaz sharif stands for the status quo, Pakistan needs new faces, new leaders not throw backs to the 1980's and 90's.

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Hasnain Haque

Apr 22, 2013 03:37pm

Although I have no affiliations with any party in Pakistan and I dont even live in Pakistan, I hope Pakistanis will look at track records of all those who have served Pakistan before casting their votes. Ask yourself how much tax the Sharifs paid, what assets they have declared, what charges they have against them and what did they do for the nation when in power. Dont just think about yourself but think about your country, the democracy, the future generations and the morality and ethics of your actions and the actions of your leaders. Only when your concious is clear then choose a candidate who you think will best serve the nation and not just your personal interests.

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