PML-Q, PPP getting chummy for Senate polls

Published January 2, 2009

ISAMABAD, Jan 1: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q is being sought after as partner by the Pakistan People’s Party to make sure that it wins as many seats as possible.

Punjab Governor Salman Taseer is leading the initiative to bring the PPP and Q-League together and there are reports that he has convinced President Asif Ali Zardari about the need for merger of the two parties.

Political sources told Dawn on Thursday that a virtual tug-of-war was going on between PPP and the PML-N to befriend PML-Q.

However, there is some resentment in the ranks of both PPP and PML-N on an alliance with the Q-League.

Senior leaders of the PML-Q visited the residence of veteran Muslim League leader Kabir Ali Wasti, who is well known for wheeling and deal, in Rawalpindi for consultations.

The chances of reunification of the Muslim League factions have brightened after a recent statement by Chaudhry Pervez Elahi that the doors of his party were open to PML-N.

He, however, said no formal offer had come from PML-N for re-unification.

Sources said some senior leaders of the PPP and workers were furious at the leadership’s move to make the PML-Q an ally, alleging that the farmer ruling party had victimised PPP and its leadership at the behest of former president Pervez Musharraf.

Similarly, there is bitterness in the ranks of PML-N over efforts for the reunification.