Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani participating in a programme. —APP

ISLAMABAD: While a war of words between the ruling Pakistan People’s Party and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N continues unabated after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s conviction for contempt of court, behind-the-scene efforts aimed at calming the political storm are under way.

An official told Dawn that Prime Minister Gilani had requested PML-N president Mian Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan to avoid confrontational politics.

According to the source, the prime minister communicated his concern to the PML-N and PTI leaders that a direct confrontation between mainstream political parties would only benefit anti-democratic elements in the country.

In recent public statements, the prime minister has expressed fear that a conspiracy is being hatched to replace the current set-up with technocrats.

Speaking at a ceremony on Monday, he also warned his political opponents of dire consequences, saying: “If somebody believes that they will come to power after throwing out the PPP government, they are absolutely mistaken.”

Soon after his conviction on April 26, Prime Minister Gilani reached out to Mr Sharif and Mr Khan through intermediaries, asking them to heed his apprehensions and deliver words of support.

In a conversation with Dawn, Senator Pervez Rashid of the PML-N refused to acknowledge any behind-the-scenes communication with the PPP.

However, considering Imran Khan’s ‘docile’ reaction to the prime minister’s conviction, it seemed the PTI leader had accepted Mr Gilani’s request, said the senator.

“Do you think we will listen to the PPP after the recent exchange of harsh words between our leaders?” Mr Rashid asked.

PTI’s information secretary Shafqat Mahmood also denied any communication with the PPP.In the past, the PML-N president has responded positively to the prime minister’s friendly postures in tension-filled times. On March 22, 2009, when the PPP and the PML-N were having an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation following the imposition of the governor’s rule in Punjab, Mr Gilani’s visit to Raiwind played a key role in reversing the situation.

On several later occasions, Mr Gilani has acted as a fire fighter between the two rival parties. In February 2010, he met Mr Sharif at a time when the former Punjab governor, the late Salman Taseer, took on the provincial PML-N government head on. The timely meeting brought down tension levels between the two parties.

According to a PML-N insider, Mr Sharif is aware that a situation can at times get out of control and this is why he is still not in favour of an all out war with the PPP. However, he feels pressured by the mood in the PML-N which believes that this is the right time to whip up anti-government sentiment.

In the past, Mr Sharif had advised party colleagues like Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif against reverting to the politicking of the 1990s, where both parties consistently brought each other down. Both are known as party hawks.

On the other hand, a PPP leader believes that the upcoming general elections can be delayed for a year if the PML-N doesn’t listen to the ruling party. He said the PML-N wanted to have the next elections under the acting chief election commission – which the PPP would not accept. Under the 20th Amendment, a consensus between the leader of opposition in the National Assembly and the prime minister is mandatory for the appointment of the CEC and a caretaker prime minister before elections.

However, after the conviction, the PML-N has refused to accept Mr Gilani as lawful prime minister. Therefore, the PPP leader argued, brinkmanship between the two major parties could prove far more dangerous for democracy this time around than in the past four years.

PML-N president Mian Nawaz Sharif. — File Photo

PESHAWAR: At a time when most of the political parties are strengthening their position by enticing workers of rival groups, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz faces a threat of losing key leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if their reservations are not removed swiftly.

Owing to internal differences the party has to delay naming of its provincial office-bearers for over a year, but its effort to keep the dispersed activists united are yet bear fruit.

PML-N president Mian Nawaz Sharif visited Peshawar on December 28 and held meetings with the disgruntled leaders, particularly former central general secretary Saranjam Khan and former provincial minister Abdul Subhan Khan, but his efforts to satisfy these leaders remained fruitless.

Though, Mr Saranjam turned up at the council meeting at Nishtar Hall on December 28, but walked out in protest when Rehmat Salam Khattak’s name was announced as provincial general secretary.

Three candidates, including Shazia Aurangzeb, Mr Khattak and Mehr Sultana, were in the run and their respective supporters were shouting slogans and as result of the disturbance Mr Sharif had to come to the rostrum where the women withdrew their papers and resultantly Mr Khattak was declared successful.

Ms Shazia was the nominee of Mr Saranjam and as she withdrew her papers he along with his supporters left the hall.

Mr Sharif had arrived a day before the council meeting to meet and woo the disgruntled leaders, but the issues remained unresolved. Both Mr Saranjam and Mr Subhan have resigned from their party offices and are likely to form a pressure group in the party.

“A party delegation, including Anwar Kamal Marwat and Farid Toofan, came to my residence and assured me of meeting our demands within 10 days. A meeting with Mr Sharif has is also being planned in Islamabad to review these issues. Let’s see what happens,” Mr Saranjam told Dawn on Sunday.

About his conditions, he said that Mr Khattak should be replaced and the party office-bearers at Mardan and Karak re-appointed. “Otherwise none of my friends is ready to accept leadership of Mr Khattak and thus our ways will be separate,” he said.

However, Mr Saranjam said he would remain a Muslim Leaguer as in this age he could not join any other party though he was contacted by PTI chairman Imran Khan and PML-Q provincial president Amir Muqam for his support.

He said that his nominee Ms Shazia was compelled to withdraw in favour of Mr Khattak, but she could not disclose the details due to fear of Mr Sharif.

Abdul Subhan, on the other hand, even avoided attending the December 28 council meeting where he was appointed provincial vice-president, the seat he refused.

Mr Subhan said he did not accept the provincial council as an independent body, as its members were nominees of Mr Khattak and Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, who, he added, was against Saranjam group.

“According to the party constitution no one can become member of the provincial council if he/she has spent less than three years in the party, but those recently joining the party were also appointed members of the council,” he revealed.

Mr Subhan said that party leadership had failed to redress grievances of the party activists and leaders and that was why staunch leaders like Javed Hashmi had left the party.

He claimed that the party had parallel groups in every district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that meetings of old workers had been planned in Mardan to decide future line of action for getting their rightful place in the party.

“During his government Pervez Musharraf had offered me Rs20 million for his support when Nawaz family was out of the country, but I rejected the offer and then faced police actions and imprisonment only for the party cause,” he recalled.

Mr Subhan said he did not attend the council meeting as Mr Sharif had already disclosed his decision that he wanted Mr Khattak as provincial secretary despite opposition by majority.

When contacted, Mr Khattak told this correspondent that efforts were being made to remove differences in the party, as replacement of anyone in the provincial cabinet was impossible.