PML-N faces tough task in choosing new governor

LAHORE: The sudden resignation of Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar after his remarks about the country’s ‘diplomatic failure’ in the wake of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India has caused a stir amongst certain senior political leaders of the PML-N, The News has learnt.
Several names are being discussed in party circles to select the successor to Sarwar. These include former PML-N MNA from Bahawalpur Chaudhry Saud Majeed, who according to sources enjoys good relations with both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He hails from south Punjab and is considered to be part of an effort by PML-N to revitalise itself in the impoverished region.
The name of Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, also PML-N chairman, is too being discussed. Zafar-ul-Haq, who hails from Kahuta, served as the PML-N chairman at a time the Sharif brothers were in exile.
He also contested polls in 1988 and 2002 but lost to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and PPP’s Zamurad Khan respectively. Some of the leaders, however, believe that the party will continue with him in Senate.
Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Begum Zakia Shahnawaz is another probable for the slot given her seniority in the party, but certain PML-N leaders think it has little likelihood due to her family’s inclination towards the main rival - PTI.
Her brother - Abdul Rehman Niazi and Abdul Hafeez Niazi - have served as PML-N MPAs while another brother Abdul Razzaq Niazi was elected as an independent MPA from Khanewal in 2013 elections.
The party leadership has convened a meeting in a couple of days to finalise the choice, which will be made after an informed deliberation and taking into consideration the prevailing political situation.
The PML-N government, which has already been facing immense criticism from rival parties over the governance issues for the last several months, is once again going through a testing phase following 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.