ISLAMABAD, March 5: The two groups in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), apparently having differences over the issues of party's reorganization and future strategy regarding anti-government drive , have approached party chief Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah and are waiting for a final decision.
The rift in the PML-N came to surface when its MNA from Lahore, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, levelled allegations against the party's acting parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, accusing him of working against the party's interests.
The MNA had alleged that Ch Nisar was not in favour of launching a resistance movement against the military rulers and wanted to have reconciliation with them.
Regarding ongoing reorganization process of the party, Mr Rafiq had alleged that efforts were being made to push back hardliners and impose those people on the party who had done nothing for the PML-N during the last five years when the party was in deep trouble.
On the other hand, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has preferred not to speak against any party man in front of media. However, talking to Dawn on Thursday, Mr Nisar said he had left the matter to the party and its chief Nawaz Sharif. "I will not speak (on the issue). Let the party decide and speak on the issue itself," he said.
Without naming Saad Rafiq, Mr Nisar accused him of making the party a laughing stock before the people by taking its internal matters to the public. He also categorically rejected the charges that he was in favour of reconciliation, saying the party was determined to eliminate dictatorship from the country and there was a very clear party guideline and policy in this regard.
Like Ch Nisar, PML-N Senior Vice-President Saranjam Zamindar also told Dawn that they had contacted Nawaz Sharif and asked him to resolve the issue.
"I have talked to Mr Sharif on telephone and apprised him of the latest situation in the party," Mr Zamindar said, adding that Mr Sharif had assured him that he (Nawaz Sharif) would take final decision in this regard very soon.
Mr Zamindar supported the allegations levelled by Saad Rafiq and said despite the fact that he was the senior vice- president of the party, he was never consulted by the local leadership on important party matters. So much so, Mr Zamindar said he had not even seen Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for the past several months when he was even the secretary-general of the party.
When contacted, PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said so far, he had not received any directives from Mr Sharif in this regard. He said he had talked to the party chairman, Raja Zafarul Haq, and they were expected to have a meeting on Tuesday to resolve the issue which, according to him, was damaging the party.