HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership does not give Sindh the importance it deserves as the second largest province of the country in all matters political, organisational and administrative.
The leadership’s heavy dependence on unreliable electables and landlords has given rise to factionalism and infightings in the party, which has reduced it to a drawing room party without a sound organisational structure.
With just a year and a half in the government, many disenchanted electables have quit the party and others are weighing their options to leave it sooner or later.
When PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif made tours of Sindh before the May 2013 polls, many had expected that he would now attach due importance to Sindh. But the expectations proved short-lived.
The leadership has always found it convenient to depend on ubiquitous electables or notables instead of striking a relationship with the masses. Even when the party ruled Sindh during the second tenure of Nawaz Sharif when he claimed ‘massive mandate’ in 1997 polls, the party put in no effort to organise it at the grassroots level.
For Jami Chandio, an analyst, the PML-N has a ‘strategic interest’ mindset when it comes to dealing with Sindh. “Nawaz Sharif never looks beyond Punjab. In previous elections, the party employed the same tactics by getting closer to nationalists over the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act 2012 to put the PPP on the back foot,” he asserts.
“On the other hand, the party started romancing with electables for the sake of achieving a token presence in the parliament. I think the PML-N has no chance of gaining space in Sindh which was once available to it because of its anti-Kalabagh dam stance. It has missed the train. This space might be grabbed by Imran Khan but he has his own issues,” he says.
PML-N insiders admit the party has not been able to strengthen its structure at grassroots level. It mostly remains dependent on influential personalities and has been virtually divided between Syed Ghaus Ali Shah and Mamnoon Hussain (president of the country) in Sindh.
Shah, who stood by the Sharifs during turbulent period of Musharraf regime and led the party’s provincial chapter, now feels cornered though, according to PML-N Sindh chief Ismail Rahu, he has not formally quit the party.
“It’s true we have not been able to create a strong setup. It is attributable to factors like political approach of party office-bearers who had been at the helm in Sindh in the past,” says Rahu.
But, he continues, “we are now going for an incremental approach which will certainly take some time to give the party a sound footing and we are interested in getting on with our friends.”
He explains that Sindh needs the PML-N and Nawaz Sharif himself is committed to Sindh’s development. The Rs15 billion Green Line bus project and funding for circular railway are proofs to his commitment, he says.
Even after a year and a half year in the government, the PML-N leadership has not been able to pay the attention to Sindh it needs in development or social sector. It is in spite of the fact that Mumtaz Ali Bhutto had merged his Sindh National Front and Liaquat Ali Jatoi his Awami Ittehad Party into the PML-N and Thatta’s influential Shirazis, Magsis of Tando Allahyar and Jatois of Naushahro Feroze had hopped on the PML-N bandwagon.
Mumtaz Bhutto has made his reservations known to PML-N leadership, Liaquat Jatoi who has won his election appeal on provincial assembly seat in Dadu which he had contested as PML-N candidate has resigned from the PML-N and revived his party, Tando Allahyar’s Dr Irfan Magsi has quit the PML-N after contesting on its ticket and Murtaza Jatoi, inducted in federal cabinet, has hinted at resigning from the party.
Nehal Hashmi, PML-N Sindh general secretary, puts it somewhat bluntly: “In Sindh, PML-N proved to be more of a ‘status club’ than a party for have-nots. The party didn’t come out of bungalows and ‘autaqs’ of leaders and it continues to chase ‘big names’ instead of opting to work among masses to address issues of peasantry, working class, youths and growers. He and Rahu are trying to take it to union council level now.”
It is a common feeling among Sindh’s politicians, writers and nationalists that Sharifs have never taken Sindh seriously. The brothers appear to be comfortable with the numerical strength they manage to gain in Punjab to form federal or Punjab governments.
The Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi says sarcastically that the PML-N is dealing with Sindh in line with its ‘election package’ that restricts it from looking beyond Punjab and federal government.
“To me Mian saheb has not learnt any lesson and the recent decision of setting up of military courts gives credence to this point,” he says.
With a federal outlook the party not only tends to embrace political big wigs in Sindh but also tries to gain acceptability and legitimacy by aligning with nationalist forces over Sindh-specific issues.
It is evident from July 2012 seven-point charter Mian Nawaz Sharif signed with the Sindh United Party led by Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, promising more autonomy, a true federation and steps against corruption.
“You are talking of our relation with Mian saheb but I believe he doesn’t have time even to meet his own people from Sindh,” reacts Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah.
“Sharifs have not made any attempt to make progress on that charter till this day and I believe it is the same old Punjab-centered approach. Since he gains majority in Punjab he is least concerned about other provinces,” he adds.
Shah points out the accord was meant for defining more powers under provincial autonomy and make Pakistan a true federation where all federating units were treated at par and the Senate was made a powerful and truly representative body.
Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2014
