The ruling Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is most unlikely to run for another term as the party's president. Insiders told Business Recorder that well before the upcoming elections in July or early August, the Chaudhry of Gujrat would announce not to contest for the slot again.
Though his term ends by mid next year, but owing to pressure from within the party, he announced to hold early elections this year and the process to elect new office-bearers from top to district level slots, would be completed well before August 14.
"Even if Shujaat showed his willingness, he will be asked not to present himself as a candidate," party sources revealed.
At the PML centenary public meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat asked President General Pervez Musharraf to lead the party, which according to analysts, perhaps would not be acceptable to President Musharraf.
PML Information Secretary Senator Tariq Azeem, who is poised to get elevation as federal minister, expressed his ignorance about the possibility of Shujaat not running again for the party's presidentship.
"As the things stand now, I don't foresee any reason for sitting party president not to participate in the elections," Tariq Azeem maintained.
For the coveted position, the hottest contender is PML Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, according to these sources, he is closer to the powers that be than Shujaat.
The PML president finds himself incomplete without Mushahid and prefers to take him along on all the important occasions. Mushahid, who was formerly a close confidant of Mian Nawaz Sharif, commands respect in the party.
Though, the sources pointed out, it was premature, but surely, Farooq Leghari, Hamid Nasir Chattha or Zafarullah Jamali could not be the contenders.
A senior PML leader, who does not have any party slot told Business Recorder that for making an impact in the 2007 election, the party should get an energetic and vibrant 'skipper'.
"There is no doubt, to the best of his abilities, Chaudhry Sahib managed to keep PML afloat as an entity in the most turbulent times, but for meeting new challenges, a change at the top level is inevitable," he said.
Meanwhile, spokesman of the PML forward bloc Farooq Amjad Mir from Lahore told this correspondent that their like-minded colleagues would vote for any one except Chaudhry Shujaat. The bloc wants replacement of Shujaat and Elahi, accusing them of making the party their 'family affair'
"Yes, we also have a solid information that this time, Shujaat will not be PML presidential candidate and we will like to see Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also being replaced," he emphasised. He alleged that the ruling PML was confined to Punjab, more precisely to Gujrat.
Tariq Azeem described the forward bloc as a figment of imagination and said such gimmicks would not last long, adding the party leadership and workers believe in democracy.
Comments
Comments are closed.