— Sadiq in Quetta ahead of Nawaz Sharif’s arrival on ‘mission Balochistan’
— Saad in Karachi to finalise efforts for greater alliance in Sindh
QUETTA: Efforts by Nawaz Sharif to help forge a nation-wide political alliance to help win majority in the National Assembly and form a coalition government of like-minded political parties intensified on Monday.
Sharif, who is facing a strong challenge for his plans to become a leading contender for the slot of prime minister, has miserably failed to amass huge public support yet. Hence, his party is making efforts to forge a multi-party election alliance to help win big at ballot box.
With former prime minister and hugely popular Imran Khan jailed, Sharif finds it as the best opportunity to run as a leading contender for the prime ministerial slot.
Senior PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq on Monday reached Quetta, just a day before former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to land in the provincial capital for his first visit since returning to Pakistan after years-long exile.
Sadiq – the former National Assembly speaker – has been assigned the task to reach out to the political leaders in smaller provinces, thus paving the way for a broader electoral cooperation in the February 8 polls.
It is his second visit to the country’s largest province in recent weeks after being a part of the PML-N team that held talks with the MQM-P, PML-F and JUI-F for a seat adjustment formula.
The PML-N supremo is reaching Quetta on Tuesday for forging new alliances and boosting his party’s organisation in Balochistan, as the three-time prime minister, despite his disqualification, eyes fourth term in office.
Nawaz – who is regarded as the comeback man – is confident of regaining power after his conviction in the NAB cases to achieve what has been considered an impossible by many who predicted the end of politics just like during his pervious exile when Pervez Musharraf had deported him to Saudi Arabia.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz – the party’s chief organiser – will accompany him for his three-day visit to Balochistan where he is expected to close a seat-adjustment deal with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) which is now led by Khalid Magsi.
The Balochistan-based party had parted ways with the PTI-led ruling alliance, paving the way for the success of a no-confidence motion which propelled Shehbaz to the prime minister’s office for a 16-month-long stint.
The planned agreement with the BAP comes after the PML-N last week secured a similar deal with the MQM-P in Sindh where discussions are on for extending the electoral collaboration to other parties like Pir Pagara’s PML-F and the JUI-F.
Nawaz is also expected to meet over 20 prominent political leaders and several of them will join the PML-N, boosting the party’s prospects in February 8 general elections.
The visit also has a great symbolic significance given that it was Balochistan where the downfall of his government began after the change in party loyalty and shifting alliances ended the tenure of the then chief minister Sanaullah Zehri.
Both Zehri and Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch had left the PML-N and later joined the PPP after criticising Nawaz and his policies after he accused the establishment of toppling his government, conviction and the controversial elections in 2018.
Nawaz Sharif’s Quetta visit rescheduled
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s Quetta visit has been rescheduled.
Nawaz Sharif who was scheduled to fly to Balochistan on Monday to further expand his party’s alliances with regional players, now will visit the provincial capital of Balochistan on Tuesday along with PML-N President, Shehbaz Sharif.
The security squad of the former three-time prime minister has left for Quetta before his arrival. During his visit, the ex-PM will hold political meetings and it is expected that many political leaders will announce to join PML-N.
The PML-N on Tuesday formed an alliance with the MQM-P and announced reaching out to other parties in Sindh. PML-N team Saturday reached Karachi to meet Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and other parties’ leadership.
Senior leader of PML-N including Khawaja Saad Rafique met with Pir Sahab Pagara and forwarded him Nawaz Sharif’s message. The PML-N delegation also visited the MQM-P markaz in Bahadurabad to discuss further steps after the coalition elections.
Nawaz Sharif, who returned last month after around four-year stay in London, will hold meetings with PML-N Balochistan’s leadership during his visit to Quetta. Meanwhile, PML-N is also eyeing another alliance with the JUI-F, ANP and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.
