In yet another development, Mian Nawaz Sharif personally phoned a number of PML-Q MNAs to congratulate them on their success, in line with his efforts to create inroads into the king’s party, the PML-Q.
Some MNAs-elect of the PML-Q told this correspondent they could join Nawaz Sharif at a later stage. "Neither the PML-Q is a party nor have they been voted as a party. There is no one in the party who could serve as a binding force to keep the outfit united. It is a crowd of people where we have only leaders and no workers," a noted party MNA, who was congratulated by Nawaz Sharif on his success, told The News. Interestingly, majority of potential defectors are those who have never been in the PML-N. The likely hunting ground of the PML-Q is Sargodha, Multan and Faisalabad Divisions where about 20 MNAs of PML-Q have been elected.
The News has also learnt on good authority that several MNAs and MPAs from Sargodha Division, who won as independent candidates, have conveyed their desire to join the PML-N. As far as PML-Q's merger with the PML-N is concerned, this issue was discussed at a meeting on Tuesday at the residence of the party secretary general, Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
A vice president of the party, who has also applied for women reserve seat, Yaqoot Jamil-ul-Rehman, raised the merger issue in the meeting. She feared that massive defections could take place within the PML-Q and, therefore, the leadership should start establishing contacts with Nawaz Sharif for a graceful merger, instead of doing this at a time when no option was left.
Yaqoot said since Nawaz Sharif had also stated that he would welcome those desirous of staging a comeback to the parent party, there was no harm in negotiating the merger. The idea was strongly supported by another participant, PML-Q senior vice president, Akram Zaki. Leader of the House in the Senate, Waseem Sajjad, who was also present, however, remained silent and did not oppose the idea.
Mushahid Hussain, responding to these suggestions, said: "Let Chaudhry Shujaat come back to Islamabad and let us discuss the matter with him before doing anything substantial on this."
Two party heavyweights, Ejaz-ul-Haq and Sheikh Rashid who have lost polls this time, are reportedly planning to form their own factions instead of remaining loyal to the PML-Q.
Another heavyweight and former factional leader, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, has already created distance from the PML-Q, by not only contesting the election as an independent but also defeating the PML-Q candidate. Farooq Laghari and company are also unlikely to remain under the wings of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat.
As far as Nawaz Sharif’s contacts with PML-Q MNAs are concerned, this correspondent has learnt from more than one source that Sharif rang these people, well before they could receive a call from Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
When one such MNA was asked about his future plan and whether he would like to join the PML-N or the PPP-P, he said: "Most likely the PML-N because I may not feel comfortable with Mr Zardari."
Another PML-Q MNA-elect, who complained that Shujaat had not congratulated him even two days after his victory, said: "I cannot sit in the opposition. I am more concerned about the development of my people instead of the Chaudhrys. I won't regret if I left them nor they should complain as they have always ignored me."