New entity may spark name controversy

KARACHI - The formation of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), the new faction emerging from the merger of PML-Q and PML-F, under the leadership of Pir Pagara, is likely to trigger a 'name dispute between former President (r) Gen Musharraf and the new party as the former one intended to announce his own political party with the same name on 1st October. Though Gen (r) Musharraf has not established his party so far, he had announced the formation of his party with the same name prior to the announcement of Ch Shujaat and Pagara regarding the merger of both the parties. In fact both the political gurus took quick decision about the party name, leaving behind their once boss Gen (r) Musharraf. The newly established partys leader Mushahid Hussain claimed that there were three Muslim Leagues, registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan - the PML-N, PML-Q and the PML-F. Now the latter two had merged into one party namely All Pakistan Muslim League. It is to be noted here that Gen (r) Musharraf has already applied to the Election Commission of Pakistan for the registration of his own party by the name of All Pakistan Muslim League. However, what will be the scenario after October 1st, when the former president formally announces the formation of his party with the same name, it is yet to be seen. But sources in the PML-Q, claimed that there was no anxiety in the rank and file of the party about the possible controversy that could storm their party just after its creation. The name of the newly-formed party is not an issue. The basic purpose and aim of Chaudhry Shujjat Hussain and Pir Pagara is to unite the Pakistan Muslim Leaguers under one banner and they have achieved the target, they pointed out. The PML-Q sources said that they did not want to get involved in the technicalities of the party name because what their leaders (Pir Pagara and Ch Shujaat) had done was the result of thorough deliberation. Both the parties discussed and worked out the amalgamation of the factions into one party before final announcement, they elaborated. They claimed that the truth was that the merger had sent shock waves among the circles that did not want the unification of Muslim League fractions into Pakistan Muslim League as they wished the parties to remain confined to provinces only. The sources maintained that the opponents of Pakistan Muslim League knew very well that whenever Muslim League voters got united nobody could defeat them. It is the division of Muslim League voters due to which other parties established their governments. It is the political history of the country, they claimed.