With Amir Muqam’s efforts, PML-N making inroads into KP

PESHAWAR: The warm welcome accorded to the newly nominated provincial president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Amir Muqam and general secretary Murtaza Javed Abbasi at the public rally in Chamkani showed that the party has been revived in the province to a great extent.

A large number of party workers received the new provincial president and general secretary of the PML-N at Swabi and Rashakai interchanges and the Motorway toll plaza in Peshawar on their arrival.

They addressed a well-attended rally giving a message to the rivals that PML-N was still a big political force despite internal differences and groupings.The PML-N’s top leadership has put trust in Amir Muqam, who is also Advisor to Prime Minister and Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, to revitalise the party by overcoming internal rifts and give a tough time to rivals, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Though the PML-N emerged the second largest party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2013 general election, its leadership didn’t play an active role in strengthening the party at the grassroots.Besides, former governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan, Amir Muqam has been very active and is holding public meetings and rallies.

Political observers believe that Amir Muqam posed a challenge to the PTI and the party might further improve its position under his leadership if he succeeded in removing the reservations of the aggrieved workers. However, the central leadership would have to concentrate on the province by launching mega development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and addressing the issue of electricity loadshedding.

Amir Muqam has been successful in holding large rallies during the last four years and has challenged the PTI in the province. No doubt the PML-N has sufficient vote-bank in Hazara and Malakand divisions, Peshawar valley and some southern districts, but tangible steps are needed to motivate the workers and resolve their issues on priority basis.

To achieve the desired goals, the party’s high command would have to push the provincial leadership to organise the party from ward to district level.It would have to execute uplift projects in KP as PTI should not be considered weak as it is still popular among the youth. Amir Muqam and Murtaza Javed Abbasi would have to work hard to win the hearts and minds of the workers.