Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has revealed that some of the lawmakers from the former ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), are in contact with the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
She appeared in Nadeem Malik’s show on Samaa TV where she explained the politics of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). “We are not afraid of this movement because we know the truth behind it. They are not on the same page. PML-N is desperate because they do not have anything to lose but the PPP is not going to stand by them,” she argued.
The biggest challenge for the PML-N has been its own narrative as projected by Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz. The anti-army narrative—Nawaz named the army chief and DG ISI for stealing the General Election 2018 and ousting him from the office— has made it difficult for several seasoned politicians in the party, GVS learned through reliable sources.
It is important to note that in October 2020, Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has assigned him the task to contact the disgruntled lawmakers of the PML-N, who are fed up with the negative narrative of the party leadership.
While speaking at a gathering in Nowshera, Khattak said: “Over 15 members of the National Assembly have now approached me while others are also flexing their muscles to part ways with the PML-N and join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in near future.”
The defence minister claimed that the PML-N would soon be divided into three pieces, which would help dump the politics of agitation and personal vendetta.
Read more: PM Imran calls for speedy repatriation of Nawaz from the UK
In September, four members of Punjab Assembly belonging to the PML-N called on Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar and apprised him of the problems in their constituencies. This meeting was in continuation of their previous meetings with Buzdar who had been consistently claiming that any member of the Punjab Assembly could meet him irrespective of his/her party affiliation.
Those who called on the Chief Minister included Chaudhary Ashraf Ali Ansari, Muhammad Ghiasuddin, Muhammad Faisal Khan Niazi, and Mian Jalil Ahmed Sharaqpuri. A local PML-N leader from Gujranwala Ch Muhammad Yunis Ansari was also present in the meeting.
It has been the consistent stance of these MPAs that they had not left their parent party and that they were in contact with the Chief Minister in connection with the resolution of problems in their constituencies. They have also maintained the same position in response to the show-cause notices earlier issued to them by the PML-N leadership.
‘Nawaz family against national interest’
PML-N’s MPA Jalil Ahmad Sharqpur disclosed that Maryam Nawaz, Vice President PMLN, was also furious at the time and remained angry throughout. “This style will not be good if it is maintained”, he warned. The MPA maintained that the idea of clashing with the establishment was not a great idea for the future of the country.
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“There are some people in PML-N who say that the party can’t walk with the party any longer”, he finally asserted. When asked by the host, Waseem Badami, whether he himself intended to leave the party, Sharqpuri promptly replied in the negative, saying that neither did he have the intention, nor did he find the need to do so.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif deceived the nation and government, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani
Still addressing Vice President PMLN’s “angry style” Sharqpuri contested that her attitude was also against the national interest, adding that the PML-N leadership would have to abandon the policy of confrontation with the institutions and think about it, for it could no longer work.
He voiced his opinion that no leader should have that kind of style at all, as portrayed by father and daughter, former PM Nawaz Sharif and Vice President PMLN Maryam Nawaz, respectively.