KARACHI - Admitting his failure for not having sufficiently mobilised the people of Sindh through his slogan of a confederation system, Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto, a veteran politician and former caretaker chief minister, is formally merging his party, the Sindh National Front, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Wednesday in the presence of its chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif.
The former premier will touch down in Moenjo-Daro for a two-day visit to northern areas of Sindh on Tuesday (tomorrow), according to provincial leaders of either side. Certain influential tribal chiefs will publicly announce their joining the N-League, besides the SNF president.
The PML-N chief has been invited to Garhi Khero, Jacobabad, by Sardar Ghulam Ali Buledi. Later, he will proceed to Mirpur Bhutto, the ancestral village of Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto, where he would spend the night.
According to PML-N’s Imdad Chandio, Mumtaz Bhutto is merging his party with the PML-N with no strings attached.
“Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to address an SNF workers’ convention in Ratodero Town on May 9 (Wednesday), where Mumtaz Bhutto is all set to come to the N-League’s fold,” added SNF’s Ayub Shar. “Over the past 30 years, our party struggled to convince the people to unite for the rights of Sindh.”
The SNF general secretary leader further said, “When we were convinced that the people did believe in the national parties, our central committee unanimously decided to merge with the PML-N.”
“Teams from both the PML-N and SNF have reached a developed on three points: whenever the PML-N comes to power, it will revisit the formula of distribution of resources among the provinces and Centre; it will also revisit the formula of resources imbursement among the federating units under the National Finance Commission; the two parties will initiate a movement to topple the PPP-led government.
Asked about the status or position to be given to Mumtaz Bhutto in the PML-N, Shar said they didn’t negotiate for any position and all this being done was for welfare of the people.
Mumtaz Bhutto, a cousin-brother of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had remained a bitter political opponent of former slain premier Benazir Bhutto. He did fight elections against PPP candidates, but faced defeat.
Mumtaz Bhutto had also served as caretaker chief minister during the tenure of President Farooq Leghari.