LAHORE - Though the PTI leadership is making aggressive efforts to make inroads into the political arena of rural Sindh but they are not certain about breaking the influence of traditional political forces in the land of Pirs and tribal chieftains.
PTI will launch its first aggressive effort on November 21 to establish its foothold in rural Sindh through a public rally at Larkana but is not even sure about grabbing the support of few notable political figures being reported in the national media.
Unconfirmed media reports claimed that Ghinwa Bhutto, Chairperson PPP (Shaheed Bhutto), Mumtaz Bhutto, Liaquat Jatoi are most likely to join the PTI at Larkana show but the PTI top leadership tasked to organise the party in rural Sindh termed the reports speculations.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, PTI Vice Chairman who is leading the Sindh task, told The Nation on Sunday: “We are not expecting major turnaround but we will break the influence of traditional political forces slowly but surely.”
About the reports of Ghinwa Bhutto, Mumtaz Bhutto and Liaquat Jatoi joining, he said, “None of these political figures are joining us. I met with Mumtaz Bhutto only and it was a casual meeting. I or my colleagues heading the Sindh task, made no direct or indirect contact with Ghinwa Bhutto and Liaquat Jatoi.”
He claimed: We can make a difference by including less known political figures without the help of political heavyweights. But anyone can join us following the dictates of his conscience.
Shafqat Unhar who contested elections against the PPP as an independent candidate, is organising PTI Larkana moot next month.
But according to PTI Sindh chapter the major participation in the public meeting is expected from the followers of Shah Mehmood Qureshi who has immense influence in rural Sindh being the custodian of Bahauddin Zikriya and Shah Rukan-e-Alam shrines.
Qureshi when asked about campaign for organising the PTI in Sindh, informed: I along with the assistance of Sindh chapter leadership making contacts with various leaders to make strong advances in Sindh rural.
About contacts with the nationalist parties, which possess support in pockets of rural Sindh, he avoided details.
According to local leaders, PTI’s future depends on the successful rally at Larkana, the stronghold of the PPP. They expect the inclusion of some disgruntled and less known PPP leaders besides unemployed political figures from rural Sindh and opined that PTI needs lot of work to establish foothold in rural Sindh.
PTI at this stage enjoys meaningful support in Khyber Pukhtunkhawa, Punjab and parts of urban Sindh. It has made no serious effort so far to organise the party in Balochistan.
PTI may get some influence in Baloch region of Balochistan if it succeeds in making some inroads in rural Sindh, which is home of major Baloch tribes who have strong linkages in Balochistan. Imran Khan enjoys main support in the Pashtun region of Balochistan.
As the political system in Pakistan is heavily under the influence of tribes and clans and PTI cannot avoid this important factor to register the party as a real challenger in rural Sindh.