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| India-Pakistan |
| Post-flood Pakistani politics get heat after two parties merged |
| 2010-09-21 |
| (Xinhua) -- Watching new political movements, high profile meetings and especially the merger of two main political parties amid hot critical versions by leaders, experts have started to discuss any possible big change in the current political scenario of Pakistan. A notable political movement was seen on Saturday when the leaders of two pro-establishment political parties Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), former ruling party and an ally of Ex-President Pervez Musharraf, and Pakistan Muslim League-F (PML-F) announced their parties' merger. Former Prime Minister Shujaat Hussain, president of PML-Q, described the merger of two PML factions as a step forward to bring political stability, strengthen democracy, overcome the country's uncertain situation, and to save the federation. Hussain, on the occasion, criticized the government recalling his suggestions to the government for relief and rehabilitation operations in flood. "Instead of giving priority to the welfare of the people the government remained busy in party politics and personal egos," he said. This merger of PML-Q with its 53 seats and PML-F with 5 seats would give birth to the third largest party in the lower house with 58 members in the house of 339, after Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), with 126 and 90 seats respectively. Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, information minister of the government, welcomed the criticism and appreciated the merger describing it as a positive step to strengthen the democracy in the country. Another faction of PML, Pakistan Awami Muslim League, would also possibly join the merger. Leaders of the merged parties agreed to name their reunion with All Pakistan Muslim League which has already been announced by Musharraf for his party, reportedly, going to be launched on Oct. 1 in London. A section of political experts believe that the unification was a precautionary move to prohibit the maximum members of the PML-Q to join Musharraf's party. Ajmal Khan Wazir, vice president of PML-Q, had reportedly been terminated from his post after having a couple of meetings with Musharraf in spite of warnings from high-ups of the party. "I knew this news through media, but general secretary of the party denied any such action. If anything happens I will not care much and will support Musharraf," Wazir told Xinhua on Monday. Although PML-Q leadership, with its merger move, tried to pressurize the government and also save its party unity but almost one dozen main prominent office bearers of the party had already shown their favor to Musharraf's newborn party. Amir Muqam, president of PML-Q in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had funded seven million rupees (0.82 million U.S. dollars) to a foundation established by Musharraf a few days back to show his support. |
| Posted by:Fred |