Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is still not openly supporting Shaukat Bosan, younger brother of party senior leader Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan against Abdul Qadir Gilani in NA-151, Multan bye-elections while PML-N is vying for making its place in the heart of PTI leadership, putting all its weight behind Bosan.
Analysts were of the view that the flexibility shown by PML-N despite Imran Khan's clear stance not to make an alliance with PML-N, is the first move the party has made to end the lingering stalemate in relations between the two parties, which became more tense after the lawyers' movement for restoration of judiciary. After failing to convince the party leadership to contest the bye-polls from NA-151 against Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, senior PTI leader Sikandar Bosan opted to field his younger brother as an independent candidate against his arch rival in the constituency.
Insiders privy to the development revealed that contrary to the principled stance of the party leadership not to contest bye-polls, the local workers of PTI are actively campaigning to strengthen the vote bank of Bosan's brother against former premier's son.
The PML-N Multan Chapter President Bilal Butt and secretary general Athar Mumtaz Friday announced in a press conference that the party would support Shaukat Bosan to give humiliating defeat to Abdul Qadir Gilani and PTI workers are also not behind in the race. According to political analysts, the move could be help bridge the widening gap between the two parties - PTI and PML-N, if they succeeded in bringing down Gilani junior in the crucial bye-elections.
However, when contacted, PTI central information secretary Shafqat Mehmood downplayed the rumours, saying it is crystal clear that PTI has neither fielded any candidate nor it supported any particular person. "We don't believe in hereditary politics. So, why should we support any candidate in NA-151, as we have been boycotting all the bye-polls in past," he maintained.
He said the country is at a crossroads and trying to prolong rule through bye-elections, is not a solution to do things with the stroke of a pen as the ruling elite has miserably failed to deliver during last four years. The circumstances demand immediate announcement of fresh elections, he said, adding that masses could only get rid of corrupt and incompetent ruling junta, which has made the poor man's life difficult.
When contacted, a senior PML-N leader also rejected the allegations that local leadership of the party has announced support to the PTI candidate. Instead, he argued that Shaukat Bosan was an independent candidate and was not contesting the bye-polls on the PTI ticket. "The party will, in no way support any candidate who will be contesting election on the PTI ticket," he maintained.
PML-N candidate Ishaq Bucha who had been flexing muscles against Abdul Qadir Gilani, changed his mind after meeting Yousuf Raza Gilani and rejoining the PPP. According to PPP sources, the party leadership is taking the bye-election of NA-151 to be held on July 19 as a challenge. The party would face a serious blow if defeated after Gilani's exit, the sources added.
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