 ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) hardliners, led by Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, have been successful in getting a plan approved by the party chief, Nawaz Sharif, to corner newcomers in the party they dub “Musharraf’s cronies”, Daily Times learnt on Saturday. Sumaira Malik, Amir Muqam and Marvi Memon might be in the line of fire in the coming days as the plan to sideline them and trim their within-the-party clout to an acceptable size is afoot, sources in the PML-N said. They said the statement given by Nawaz last week against Musharraf’s former associates is a reflection of how the hardliners have planned to sideline them. Elaborating the plan, the party sources said Sumaira would be denied party ticket on a general seat from Khushab and would instead be made to contest from Mianwali where she has no or little chance of winning. “Kalsoom Nawaz has convinced party chief to implement a plan aimed at sidelining Musharraf’s three close aides. Under the strategy, Sumaira Malik would be asked to contest the election from Mianwali instead of Khushab while Maryam Nawaz would be fielded in NA-69 Khushab, considerably a safe seat for the party candidate. Sumaira Malik had won two previous elections from that constituency and this time she would be asked to contest the election from Mianwali against PTI chief Imran Khan,” the sources added. In case Sumaira faced defeat from Mianwali, the sources said, she would be accommodated on a reserved seat for women. The party sources said Begum Kalsoom was unhappy over Sumaira, Muqam and Marvi joining the PML-N due to their past relations with former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, however, her reservations had been ignored by the party chief in the past. “Muqam and Marvi would also be cut to size,” sources in the PML-N told this scribe. They said Muqam had already been cornered in the PML-N and majority of his nominees would not be able to get party tickets from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the general election. The PML-N leadership has taken serious notice of the resignation by party MPA Shazia Aurangzeb for accommodating Muqam’s nominees in the KP chapter of the party and held Muqam responsible for the differences in the party ranks, they added. “Keeping in view the ongoing unpleasant situation, the party has decided to give priority to the recommendations of Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi and Pir Sabir Shah pertaining to award of party tickets in KP. Mehtab Abbasi would now recommend party tickets for Hazara division while Pir Sabir Shah and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra would look after the nominations for rest of the KP and FATA,” said the sources. They further said the party leadership was also going to review Marvi’s role in the party’s reorganisation in Sindh. “She might be denied party ticket from Thatta and ‘one of her major supporters’ has also been informed about the party decision, the sources concluded.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-11-2012_pg7_1 |
Labels: International news
