LAHORE - Political moves of APML chief Pervez Musharraf, without taking into confidence his political partners, can undermine the bid to launch a possible coordinated joint anti-government action in near future.
Pervez Musharraf who held meetings with top PML-Q and PML-Functional leadership for the purpose of unifying various Muslim League factions and later advancing the political action to form a larger opposition alliance, violated a verbal understanding by pondering upon possible political maneuvers involving Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).
The first formal meeting among Pervez Musharraf, Chaudharys and Pir of Pagaro’s Functional League met in Karachi sometime back to launch efforts for unify various Muslim League factions excluding PML-N and later using the platform to form a larger opposition coalition for massive action against the ruling party.
The religious parties to be contacted for the purpose of larger opposition alliance by the three top leaderships are Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Noorani), Sunni Tehreek, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Sunni Ittehad Council, while efforts would also be made to allure the JUI-F for this coalition.
The PML-Q, which was the lead coalition party of PAT along with Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Sunni Ittehad Council during the Inqilaab March of Dr Qadri, felt betrayed because of his (Dr Qadri) calling off the anti-government drive without the consent of his coalition partners.
Against the backdrop of PAT betrayal, PML-Q leadership was of the opinion that Dr Qadri should not be included in a joint opposition action against the ruling party but Pervez Musharraf had violated the verbal understanding by contacting PAT chairman and sharing his views for launching a possible drive against the government with Dr Qadri.
According to Muslim League leaders part of this action, “Musharraf should express some courtesy and at least take into confidence his partners regarding his political actions. PAT had betrayed the PML-Q, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen and Sunni Ittehad Council in the recent past.
PML-Q central spokesman, Kamil Ali Agha, when contacted cautiously speaking said, “There could be more than one anti-government drive which could join hands at a later stage.”
About the fate of efforts for unifying various Muslim League factions, he said, “The matter is facing slow action and I don’t see a major break on this front in the near future but the Muslim Leaguers desire unification or alliance among their factions should not be disappointed. This political action will succeed no matter it takes sometime.”
PML-Q Sindh president, Aleem Adil Sheikh who is privy to some the informal and formal meetings among Pervez Musharraf, Pir of Pagaro and his party’s leadership when called said, “Keeping in view APML chief’s contacts with PAT chairman, it can be said, we can be part of a different political maneuver, while Musharraf may be part of another. However the meetings held for unifying the Muslim League factions agreed that the three APML, PML-Q and PML-Functional launch joint efforts for a larger opposition alliance after succeeding in Muslim Leagues alliance plan.”
Asked about a possible timeframe for unifying Muslim League factions, he said, “I cannot say anything with certainty.”
Political observers so far are unclear about the outcome of a possible adventure of Musharraf and Dr Qadri, especially when former political partners of PAT chief felt betrayed because of his announcement concerning calling off the Inqilaab March without consulting them.