Many faces of PML
As for the latest development, the PML-N is reportedly keeping a close eye on things. The Q-League has given it a tough time in parts of Punjab and perhaps Chaudhry Shujaat and Mushahid Hussain are trying to create a constituency in Sindh by merging with Pir Pagara’s faction. - Photo on file
The news that the Chaudhry Shujaat-led PML-Q has merged with Pir Pagara’s Functional League has been met by many political observers with a sense of bemused scepticism. Pir Sahib will lead the new entity, which has been dubbed the All Pakistan Muslim League. Though political parties in Pakistan split at the drop of a hat, the Pakistan Muslim League is perhaps the party which has seen the most splits, mergers, unifications and factions in the history of this country.
Starting from the Ayub era, the party has been broken up into so many factions that it is difficult to keep count.
Military dictators including Ayub Khan, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf have all used the Muslim League banner to cobble together a willing coalition of political malcontents, opportunists and turncoats that could offer a democratic fig-leaf to their authoritarian adventurism. The countless variants of the League have had different shelf lives, with some outliving their patrons politically.
As for the latest development, the PML-N is reportedly keeping a close eye on things. The Q-League has given it a tough time in parts of Punjab and perhaps Chaudhry Shujaat and Mushahid Hussain are trying to create a constituency in Sindh by merging with Pir Pagara’s faction. This is probably not designed to dent the PPP’s vote bank in Sindh but to eliminate the chances of the N-League gaining a foothold in the province. As it is, PML-N has hardly been active in Sindh’s flood-affected areas. There is also the question of name, for the APML tag already appears to be taken: Gen Musharraf plans to launch his own party of that name on Oct 1. Ultimately, it is difficult to see what great, long-lasting impact the merger will have on national politics as none of those involved have sterling democratic credentials.
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