LAHORE, Feb 2: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday dusted off and launched an old plan to convert the PML-Q splinter group – also known as the Unification Bloc – into a “parliamentary party and keep it as a ready replacement for the PPP and to use it as a tool to counter the maneuverings by the Chaudhrys from Gujrat”.

The bloc, on its part, went ahead to execute the plan on Wednesday when it applied for “separate seats in the Punjab Assembly”.

Prior to moving an application, 44 members of the bloc held a meeting with the PML-N bigwigs at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

According to insiders, the PML-N assured the group that this time the Speaker would entertain its application for separate seats, and possibly allow it to elect a new leader of opposition. Once its identity as a separate party, rather ‘real’ Pakistan Muslim League (Q), is established, the group can join the Punjab government and grant it an overwhelming numerical majority in the house. It would pre-empt any possibility of individual disqualification in case of the group members supporting Shahbaz-led government.

According to the group members, the PML-N, of late, has been facing double pressure; its rows with the PPP are becoming more frequent and serious, and the Chaudhrys are running from pillar to post to politically damage the Sharifs.

They said the Chaudhrys have gone to almost every political party – minor or major – and offered cooperation, regardless of any principle or ideology. Their recent meetings included politicians of all sorts, from Imran Khan to the MQM, the JUI-F to the Jamaat-i-Islami, ending up at the anti-blasphemy rally at Lahore, they added. “Their (Chaudhrys’) efforts, whether independent or at the behest of someone else, to rally right wingers to an electoral alliance, which would surely eat into the PML-N vote bank, are being watched very closely and suspiciously by the Sharifs,” says one of the group members.

The group, once recognised as majority party in the house, would formalise the split in the Q-League and permanently reduce political weight of the Chaudhrys, which they are trying to throw around citing current numerical strength of the group, he said and added: “That is exactly what the Sharifs want now; cutting the Chaudhrys to size of their choice.”

On the second prong, the move would neutralise the threat of PPP bringing the PML-N down by quitting the coalition government, and the disqualification threat being faced by individual group members in case of supporting the PML-N government.

The Nawaz League, with its attention riveted on next elections, is making the fault line clear with the PPP. “The PML-N now wants to distance itself from the PPP for staying clear of, what it considers costly mistakes – corruption charges and cronyism – of the PPP,” says another member of the group. “But, at the same time, it (PML-N) wants the PPP to complete the term for two reasons; fearing a right-wingers alliance in case of mid-term polls and the PPP playing martyr if it is thrown out. Thus, it is caught in a balancing act; it wants the PPP government to complete five years, yet stay clear of its governance crisis,” he says.

“That is precisely the point where the group, converted into a parliamentary party that would also keep chipping into the Q-League, will help the Nawaz League in staying clear of the PPP, whenever it wants to formalise parting of the ways. It now wants to be prepared to throw the PPP out of coalition, when and if the need be. Whether the PML-N can do so, or actually does, is a separate matter. But, it wants to keep its options open,” he claimed.