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  Politicians Unleashed: PML

"Wo jo hum mein tum mein qarar tha..."

Pakistan Muslim League [PML] emerged as the single largest party in 1997 elections making political history by securing a 2/3rd majority in the parliment. 3 years on, with the turn of events and Sharif's fleeing to Saudia, it became the most divided party in politics with a dozen or so factions fighting against each other. Today more or less all the factions have united in the name of Quaid-e-Azam [PML-Q] with a little bone of contention against the Sharif's [PML-N] 		   
 

The Story of the Leagues

They have been termed as the King's party.. many claim they have Musharraf's support and endorsement.. few believe their candidates could lose in Punjab. PML-Q today is the largest party in Punjab with strong candidates in almost all constituencies. Their meetings and processions are full of thousands of people, although usually bused-in for the occasion but PML-Q is surely dominating public opinion in Punjab.. Chaudhary Pervez Elahi has already being crowned the Chief Minister of Punjab by his supporters.

PML-Q, an alliance of many factions of PML that sprout up after PML leadership fled to Saudi Arabia creating a vaccuum on the top which every one wanted to fill. Thus the war for the League leadership led to the big breakup with each strongman forming a PML of his own. At one time it seemed the letters in the alphabet would end as PMLs kept on reproducing. So why did they unite just in time for the october elections? Common Intrests they say!

A row over party leadership forced Aijazul Haq to form his own faction of PML just over a month before elections.. the Ziaul Haq Shaheed League. PML-Z may be confined to Aijazul Haq's constituency in Rawalpindi where he contests PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq. This matchup of the Haqs is already a hot topic in the twin cities.

Indeed all politicians have their own self intrests at hand, yet they shared one common feeling of hatred for the Sharif's be it owing to their overwhelming wealth or party hold, but as the Sharifs left the town, all that quickly vanished. Even the party workers switched sides leaving PML-N gasping for survival. Nawaz Sharif thus made a 180 turn, this time for the BiBi. Bibi rediscovered the brotherly relationship, PML-N and PPP became the unusual allies bonded by their leaders in exile facing similar circumstances.

The Sharifs were not ready to give up the charms and chaska of political life that easily, so Nawaz, Shahbaz and Kalsoom filed in papers of nomination, but were all refused however by the Election Comission of Pakistan forbiding them to return to contest polls. PML-N as its ally PPP, is now being led by long distance calls and tele conferences. With leaders abroad, few believe PML-N would be able to make a mark in coming elections.

MANIFESTO
"We believe in you Mr President..." "We support all your reforms.."
With remarks like these, who needs a Manifesto of their own. All PML-Q says is that they would like to stick to the President [his reforms rather] and continue with his "revolutionary vision of progress and prosperity".

PML-N however are still undecided as to what their Manifesto should be.. return from exile or telephonic leadership.



PLUS POINTS
  • PML candidates will have their way in Punjab, like them or not. Family seats are seldom vacated and voter loyalties rarely on sale here.
  • Their national Alliance with many other pro-reform pro-musharraf parties gives them the upper edge.


MINUS POINTS
  • Although for now everything seems to be working well for PML, sticking together would be their greatest achievement in the long run.



   
   

.:: VERDICT ::.

PML-Q is the largest party in Punjab with some of the strongest candidates. Elsewhere in the country however more work needs to be done, but Leaguers seem to be following maintenance strategy for hold over Punjab. "One bird in hand is better than two in the bush". Major washout in Punjab and Occasional wins in other provinces are expected. PML-Q and its National Alliance would garb over 100 seats in Parliment. PML-N most likely to generate about a dozen or two at most.

   

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Filed on October 6th 2002.

   


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