LAHORE – Spiritual leader of the Hurrs and PML-F head Pir Pagara (Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi) along with other members of his party, is holding a meeting with PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at Raiwind on December 28.
The obvious purpose of the visit of Pir Pagaro to Raiwind, as the sources confide, is to level ground for unification of different factions of Muslim League, however after appointment of PML-F Punjab President, Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mahmood, as Punjab Governor, a broader agenda is likely to come under discussion in the meeting.
Sources say that Pir Pagaro would reach here from Islamabad where Chairman of Awami Muslim League, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, would be his host.
At the political level, the meeting was being given much importance in the background of Makhdoom Ahmad’s claims to remain neutral with all political parties, Pir Pagara’s efforts for the unifications of the Leagues and PML-N repulsion to PML-Q.
Since the time of late Pir Pagaro Pir Mardan Shah, the F-League had been in struggle to bring all Leagues to a single platform in order make them jointly face PPP, MQM and ANP in the next elections forming majority. However his efforts remained embryonic mainly for the reason, PML-N did not accept PML-Q in the combined PML although it took a number of leaders of this party in the folds.
The N league still holds the same stand while Makhdoom at the very outset in the office, had extended hand of friendship not only to the PPP but also to N and Q League in Punjab. Although PML-F had dissociated itself from Makhdoom and his policy, the observers do not discount his factor in the PML-N and PML-F negotiations.
Sources say the PML-N leadership gives due significance to PML-F for the next elections and may also talk seats adjustment and electoral alliance as other options.
PML-F has a big political say in Sindh particularly in Sanghar, Mirpur Khas and in Central Sindh where it has big support of Jam family. Moreover after holding a highly successful and huge public meeting in Hyderabad last days, the F-League had not only instantly raised its political value and dealing position but it has also tremendously impressed the parties on the other side.
The upcoming meeting is also important from the point of view of the changed political scenario after the show of power by Chairman Minhajul Quran Dr Tahirul Qadri, whom the PML-N believes to be fielded by the establishment to dip down its popularity and thwart its plan to win the next elections with thumping majority.
A fear is also lurking in the mind of the N-League that some scheme was at work to defer the elections and Dr Qadri figure in that. The N-League is likely to hold talks with PML-F delegation keeping in view all these factors, add the sources.