LAHORE - The PML-Q (Likeminded Group) leaders, especially from Punjab, keeping in view their little chances of seat adjustment with PML-N are considering launching a new Muslim League to remain in the electoral arena as an independent political entity, The Nation has learnt.
Sources in the Likeminded privy told The Nation on Tuesday that the frustration of the leaders regarding no breakthrough with the PML-N for seat adjustment and failure to find any other political safe haven has led them to strongly consider putting in action the option of launching a new Muslim League to remain part of the electoral politics as an independent political entity. The sources quoted close circles of top leaders of Punjab saying that PML-N was lingering the matter of seat adjustment without any reason, apparently to frustrate their efforts as a group for electoral alliance in a bid to select leaders of their choice from the Likeminded sending the remaining into political oblivion. They added that the PML-N had already separately contacted Likeminded leaders from Sindh and Khyber-Pukhtunkhawa including Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Saleem Saif Ullah Khan and Gohar Ayub Khan to accomplish their plan of creating dents in the group but both the top leaders of the Likeminded refused to strike independent deals. Sources quoted the senior leaders saying that the matters regarding seat adjustment were to be finalized after a decisive meeting between Likeminded Chairman Hamid Nasir Chattha and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif however the PML-N Chief is not available to seal the deal between the two. They added that apparent reluctance of PML-N to give time to Likeminded top leaders to finalize the seat adjustment formula was highly worrisome for the group’s political future, especially in Punjab, which was compelling them to put in action the option of launching a new Muslim League to maintain their independent identity.
Likeminded Central Spokesperson Kashmala Tariq when contacted confirmed the wave of concern among group’s leaders regarding delaying tactics on part of the PML-N leadership to finalize seat adjustment formula. She said that launching a new Muslim League and exploring political opportunities with other parties were among the options. She added that they failed to understand the delay as the Likeminded leaders in a meeting with Chief Minister reached an understanding and final deal was to be done in a meeting between Hamid Nasir Chattha and Nawaz Sharif but the meeting could not be scheduled.
Meanwhile, the PML-N sources told the party’s high command would make political arrangements with the Likeminded potential candidates including Saleem Saifullah Khan, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Gohar Ayub Khan. However, they added that party’s top leadership might consider the case of Hamid Nasir Chattha and Humayun Akhtar Khan after seeking opinion of Gujranwala and Faisalabad party leaderships, as the PML-N faces no difficulty in securing the two constituencies in the next general elections. The Likeminded leaders desire seat adjustments with PML-N in Punjab from NA-101 Gujranwala for Hamid Nasir Chattha and NA-79 Samundri, Faisalabad for Humayun Akhtar Khan.
PML-N has already politely turned down the Likeminded proposal of 13 percent seat adjustment formula for the next general elections, which can get 30 seats for the PML-Q deserters in the Parliament. The PML-N has also refused to take onboard the ‘political liabilities’ of the Likeminded in the seat adjustment formula.