The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has to face another "political jolt" in Balochistan, as the former president of PPP Balochistan, Nawab Lashkari Raisani, along with 21 Baloch leaders including one sitting MNA and four MPAs formally announced his decision to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) here on Tuesday.
Led by Nawab Lashkari Raisani, a 22-member delegation of political leaders from Balochistan called on the PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence and announced their decision to join the PML-N reposing full confidence in the party leadership amid hopes of restoring peace and law and order in Balochistan under the leadership of PML-N. Those who joined the PML-N include Nawab Lashkari Raisani, Humayun Kurd, Ismail Gujjar, Tahir Mehmood, Ayub Khoso, Rahila Durrani, Sardar Kamran and others.
The PML-N senior leaders including Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Senator Sardar Zulifqar Ali Khosa were also present on the occasion.
It may be noted that Nawab Lashkari Raisani, who is brother of Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, was appointed as president of the PPP Balochistan by Shaheed PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto in 2003. However, Lashkari Raisani, after having differences with the party leadership has quitted the party in 2012. During meeting with the PML-N President, the Baloch leaders reposed full confidence in the leadership of the PML-N and expressed the hope that situation in Balochistan would be normalised under the leadership of the PML-N through democratic approach. The Baloch leaders also discussed current situation in Balochistan and gave suggestions to improve the state of affairs, sources said.
Welcoming the Baloch leaders, Nawaz promised to redress the sense of deprivation in Balochistan, if Allah Almighty provided him an opportunity. He also welcomed them in party fold and said the PML-N would be further strengthened in Balochistan with their joining the PML-N.
Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Nawaz told reporters that the sitting rulers have pushed back the country by 50 years during the last five years. What did President Asif Ali Zardari give to the people during the government's five year tenure? He questioned! He said the PPP government is completing its five years but people as well as the country have to suffer a lot due to inaptness and callousness of the PPP-led coalition government. He added that he is more concerned with the future of the country rather than power politics.
Expressing grave concern over the situation prevailing in the country, the PML-N President said that innocent people are being killed from Khyber to Karachi on daily basis. He said: "It is the government's responsibility to provide protection of life and property to the people but it failed to fulfil this obligation." He added that people had given mandate for protection of their life and property. "Today every countryman is in deep sense of sorrow and grief over incidents of terrorism and loss of precious lives," he added. He slammed the attitude shown by the government on the security despite having information about terrorist activities.
The PML-N President, however, emphasised the need to get united and take practical measures for rooting out the menace of terrorism. Today we are reaping the crop of terrorism sown by the dictators, he said. Nawaz, however, reiterated that general elections would take place and Pakistan would see brighter days ahead.
When asked about caretaker set-up, he said, if the government nominee for caretaker prime minister was more suitable, the PML-N would accept the decision. However, he said the Opposition Leader held detailed consultation with the Opposition parties on two names of caretaker PM and the names suggested for caretaker prime minister would be acceptable for everyone.
Talking about situation in Karachi, the PML-N Chief demanded implementation on the Supreme Court (SC) verdict in the Karachi law-and-order case. He said the Supreme Court has already declared that there are militant wings of different parties. What action was taken against such parties? People of Karachi must pose this question, he said.
Lashkari Raisani said on the occasion that the PPP has deviated from the ideology with which Benazir Bhutto led the party. He said the condition in Balochistan had worsened over the years. "The entire country, including Balochistan province, is facing a crisis. I have decided to join the PML-N to steer the country out of prevailing crisis," he said.
Moreover, PPP President from district Kohistan Haji Misri Khan and PPP MNA from the same area Saeed Ahmad Khan separately met Nawaz Sharif and also announced to join the PML-N reposing full confidence in the party leadership.