The Hindu : Setback to Muslim League unification moves in Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 02, 2002

International

International

Setback to Muslim League unification moves in Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD July 1. Efforts by the Musharraf regime for unification of various factions of the Muslim League have suffered a setback with some leaders of the splinter groups refusing to toe the government line.

This was evident from some plain-speaking done by the Functional Muslim League (FML) president, Pir Pagara, in Lahore, on Sunday after a meeting of his party's central council to discuss the prospects of unification of various factions of the Muslim League. In the last few months, particularly in the run-up to the Presidential referendum, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, had openly talked about his desire to see a united Muslim League that could form a viable Government as and when elections are held.

The comments made by Gen. Musharraf and the efforts being made by some of the functionaries in his Government have been interpreted by Opposition parties as an effort by the regime to build a `King's party' and transfer power to it after the October elections. There have been enough hints from the regime to second and third rung leaders in the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League to leave their leaders and join the endeavour of the Government towards establishment of a `corruption-free' civilian government.

However, the factions of the Muslim League are unable to reconcile their differences and come together under one banner. There is a serious tussle for leadership as every one seems to believe that whoever emerges as leader of the `unified League' would be crowned with Prime Ministership.

After the Central Council meeting of his faction, Mr. Pagara said the Musharraf Government was on its way out. He told reporters that the set-up supplanting the present one (Musharraf regime) would stay in power for about 12 to 18 months during which a number of changes would take place. Observers believe that the FML leader stiffened his attitude towards the military regime, apparently to clear the way for cooperation with the PML (Nawaz) after the collapse of merger talks with the PML (Quaid-i-Azam).

Mr. Pagra, who is due to meet Gen. Musharraf tomorrow, first alone and then along with some other leaders of the PML groups, said that he would not like to talk much with a ruler who was on his way out. He said he would simply place the resolution, adopted on Sunday, before him and then listen to his point of view. The resolution, the Pir prodded his aides to have the council adopt, "appealed'' to the President to persuade the PML (QA) to implement its June 14 decision regarding the merger of half a dozen factions of the PML.

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