the resignation of Sarwar - a former British MP – who gave up his British nationality to serve Pakistan on the invitation of Sharif brothers.
Although Sarwar during his last press conference at Governor House on Thursday stated that he had very cordial relations with the Sharif brothers, he also expressed his serious reservations regarding the issue of poor governance. His remarks that the land mafia and grabbers are more powerful than a governor are a serious indictment of the PML-N government.
Well-placed sources stated that most of the senior party leaders, who were already worried about the pungent criticism on their government by rivals - particularly by the PTI - and general public, seriously felt the need to address the issue of bad governance as well bridging the gap between the party workers and leaders.
One of their major concerns is the future political course of Sarwar, who remained in the office for around one-and-a-half year but is now free of any political affiliation.
It is learnt that both PTI and PPP are attempting to woo him to join their ranks which could eventually cause a political setback to the ruling party and damage its image further. The call made by former president Asif Ali Zardari to Sarwar after his resignation speech is particularly looked with suspicion by certain PML-N leaders.
Keeping in view the influence enjoyed by Sarwar at home and abroad in addition to his successful lobbying for a GSP plus status by European Union, the senior PML-N leaders hope that his relations with the party do not wither, which otherwise would make PTI a ‘beneficiary’ in the long run.
The PPP-PML-Q coalition for upcoming Senate polls has already upset senior party leaders with concerns that the PTI may return to the political fold for making a grand opposition alliance against the Sharifs. Reportedly, the alliance can reach out to the disgruntled members of N-League to muster their support.
For last several months, it was obvious that Sarwar and the PML-N top brass haven’t been enjoying the best of relations. The former governor has time and again voiced his serious concerns over the delay in local bodies polls in Punjab – a point which he raised at his last press conference as well.
The same feeling prevails among most of the senior party leaders who want transfer of power to masses so that they could deliver and regain their appeal from PTI which has so far been reigning supreme since the four-month-long sit-in.