LAHORE, Jan 30: Six tiny groups of the Pakistan Muslim League agreed in principle on Wednesday on their unification, slamming the doors for the major factions headed by Mian Azhar and deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, but keeping windows open for the “individuals” in the two camps desirous of jumping on the bandwagon under the leadership of a new president, to be chosen in accordance with the party constitution which was in practice in the times of the Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Functional Muslim League president Pir Pagara, who presided over the meeting at his party office, otherwise a showroom, reiterated that he was not a candidate to the top slot and wanted to see a Punjabi leader as head of the unified PML and the future prime minister.
The meeting was in continuation of the one held last year on June 3 when a total of seven groups were represented. Contacts with the PML(QA) during the intervening period failed to lead to any headway.
Syed Kabir Wasti, head of a faction who was present at the June 3 meeting, was conspicuous by his absence on Wednesday, and he told this correspondent that all those present were nothing but ‘paper parties.’ He said the PML(QA) had a majority of people capable of winning elections with it because of which Mian Azhar should be accepted as interim president till Gen Pervez Musharraf took it over. He indicated that he would soon join the PML(QA).
The factions which were represented at the Wednesday meeting were: PML(Functional), PML(Jinnah), PML(C), PML(Q), Council Muslim League and Jinnah Muslim League. Leaders who led their respective parties or were present in the talks included Rana Muhammad Ashraf, Sheikh Sirajuddin, Altaf Janjua, Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali, Azad bin Haider, Malik Haider Usman, Saifullah Saif and Khalid Chaudhry.
Pir Pagara briefed the participants about the meeting he had held with the PML(QA) delegation at Pir Jo Goth a few days ago.
He made scathing remarks against the PML(QA), saying it was a bunch of opportunists and power hungry people which did not fall in the category of a political party.
He did not agree with the suggestions that his blistering attacks would further widen the already yawning gulf between him and the party of Mian Azhar.
The Pir said the PML(QA) had not approached him on its own and it had been directed by the powers that be to do so. He believed the party would again act according to the instructions by the same quarters. According to Sheikh Sirajuddin, a central leader of the PML (Functional), Pir Pagara made it clear that he did not recognize the PML(QA) and the PML(N) as political parties nor would approach them for unification.
Individuals of the two parties, he said, could join the PML, if they so liked.
He reiterated that the central council which was in existence back in 1978 should elect a new party president according to the PML constitution. Those who had died during the intervening period could be replaced with new faces to complete the electoral college.
Asked what would be the utility of the whole exercise of unification if the PML(QA) and the PML(N) were not included, Mr Siraj said it would soon dawn upon the two factions that they would not be getting anything from the rulers without joining hands with Pir Pagara. Then, he said, they would repent and rush to join the Functional Muslim League.
Knowledgeable sources say that PML(C) president Hamid Nasir Chattha has approached PML(QA) leaders like Chaudhry Shujaat Husain to tell them that they should contact Pir Pagara to clear misunderstandings he was harbouring.
The purpose of Mr Chattha’s initiative is to prevent the situation from aggravating further before the Functional Muslim League chief addresses a news conference on Thursday.
Chaudhry Shujaat immediately called Mr Siraj to tell him that the Pir had been misinformed that any PML(QA) leader had used any derogatory language against him. The Functional Muslim League chief was instantly informed about the phone call.
The PML(QA) leader ruled out the possibility of unification. However, he said his party was still willing to make electoral adjustments on seat-to-seat basis.
There are indications that some PML(N) people will join the Functional Muslim League on Thursday.