ISLAMABAD - The PML-N leadership has finalised the name of former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as next speaker of the National Assembly, it has been learnt.
Jamali, an old guard, returned successful from his hometown National Assembly constituency as an independent candidate in elections, and later announced to join the PML-N.
Jamali went to Raiwind a few days ago and after a successful meeting with incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif announced his new political affiliation.
Sources in PML-N said initially the name of Pashtun nationalist leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai remained under discussion for the slot of speaker of the Lower House of Parliament. But Achakzai lately showed some reservations about accepting the slot. Also, there were concerns within PML-N rank and file about bringing in someone from the party on the key slot of speaker, who is regarded as custodian of the House and an anchorperson to run the Lower House of Parliament.
Jamali’s name was considered as an after-thought as the veteran politician communicated his eagerness to sail along the PML-N bandwagon. Jamali’s qualification as speaker stems from his personal and tribe’s decades-old good relations with the federation and military establishment and Muslim League factions.
With incoming premier Nawaz Sharif and Senate Chairman Nayyer Bokhari, both hailing from the Punjab province, the PML-N was on a look out for a speaker from a smaller province, notably Balochistan.
Jamali, a two-time former chief minister of Balochistan, was elected prime minister of the country after the October 2002 elections with General (retired) Pervez Musharraf as a powerful president and army chief in those days. He continued to be the premier for only one and a half years because the military ruler and his close aides didn’t like his style of working.
They made him resign in June 2004 in a meeting chaired by Musharraf and attended by the then ISI chief General (retired) Ihsanul Haq, the then National Security advisor Tariq Aziz and Chief of Staff Hamid Javed.
Jamali however announced his resignation in the premises of Muslim League House, and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the PML-Q president, was elected premier as a stop-gap arrangement of two months, following which the then finance minister Shaukat Aziz took over.
In another development, name of Senator Mushahidullah Khan has almost been finalised as the next governor of Sindh province. Mushahidullah is a key Nawaz Sharif aide, and being an Urdu speaking resident of Karachi, he fulfills the requirement of Sindh province, where MQM governor is holding the fort since 2003, becoming the longest-serving governor in country’s history. Mushahidullah rose to prominence during Sharif’s incarceration following the military coup. A former leader of PIA union, he was put behind bars and tortured by the military regime in those days. In the last Senate elections, he was elected as senator and made central information secretary of the party. A known critic of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Mushahidullah lost 2002 and 2008 elections from Karachi. His elevation as governor might not be of any administrative significance, but the PML-N wanted to send a strong message to both the MQM and PPP.
Another contender for the slot, former governor Mamnoon Hussain, was earlier being considered for the slot, but the PML-N leadership is considering elevating him as next president of the country when the incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari vacates the Presidency in September this year.
Mamnoon remained Sindh governor during Sharif’s second stint as premier from 1997 till 1999. A business graduate with a clean reputation he is now a frontrunner for the Presidential office of the country along with Ghaus Ali Shah, who if not considered for the top constitutional post of the country, can be made an advisor to the premier. Another presidential hopeful Sartaj Aziz, who hails from KPK, is also being considered for the top constitutional office. Sartaj, a former finance and foreign minister in the PML-N 1997-99 government is being made advisor to the premier for now.
Likewise, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, central secretary general of the party, is being considered as top hopeful for the post of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor. An old guard, Jhagra has been instrumental in running the party affairs during the harsh days of military rule from 1999 to 2002. He was also a longtime secretary general of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy with all the democratic forces under its umbrella during the Musharraf regime. Though he never won the 2002 and 2008 elections and lost this time too, he is considered a reliable and respectable figure in the party rank and file. The other hopefuls could be Pir Sabir Shah, a former KP (the then NWFP) chief minister is nowadays party’s KP chapter president. Sabir Shah lost to PTI candidate in 2013 elections. He had lost the 2008 elections too. In case the PML-N wants to prop up some figure from Hazara, Sabir Shah’s chances will brighten.
The name of next Balochistan governor is still being deliberated. PML-N wants someone from Pashtun area of Balochistan to become governor as it has given the green signal to National Party’s Dr Abdul Malik to become the chief minister of the province.
For the Punjab province, the PML-N is actively considering Rana Iqbal, the Punjab Assembly speaker, for the slot, if he is not kept as speaker of the assembly this time too. Final consultations in this regard are however going on with names of many stalwarts, especially South Punjab, in mind.