LAHORE:
Despite some strong criticisms coming from within its own members, the PMLN seems to be determined to ignore the problems, hoping they will go away on their own.
Even though important figures in the party have been openly criticizing the government, the PML-N doesn’t seem bothered. Sources close to the Prime Minister’s House suggest that paying attention to such criticism would only attract unnecessary media attention to what they see as meaningless complaints.
From former interior minister Rana Sanaullah to federal minister Javed Latif, Senator Javed Abbasi, and faormer senator Asif Saeed Kirmani, many influential members of the party have been criticizing its leadership.
Their comments have raised concerns about how the cabinet is being formed, questioned the fairness of recent elections, and expressed disappointment with the party’s relationship with the establishment, especially considering their past slogan of “respect the vote.”
These public criticisms have damaged the party’s reputation as a champion of democracy. Interestingly, all four critics have something in common: two of them, Sanaullah and Javed, lost in elections, while the others didn’t receive enough support from the party for re-election, leaving them out of any legislative assembly.
Sour grapes:
A reliable source from the Prime Minister’s Office said that Javed Latif and Rana Sanaullah are speaking out against the government because they’re upset about losing in the recent elections. They’re bitter about their defeat, and no matter how much they criticize, it won’t change the fact that they lost.
Rana Sanaullah, who is also the party’s central Punjab president, not only lost in his own election but also saw his party lose in many areas to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This shows that he doesn’t have a strong hold on the party’s internal affairs.
The source mentioned that Rana Sanaullah’s claims of a conspiracy against him or that the cabinet formation had input from outside sources only show how narrow-minded he is.
When asked about the party taking action against such leaders, it was explained that while Sanaullah’s comments were unpleasant, they didn’t break party rules, unlike Javed Latif’s actions.
Despite their harsh words against the government, it was decided to ignore their comments for now. Sending them a warning would only draw more attention to their accusations, which wouldn’t help.
When asked if the Prime Minister or his cabinet considered these points, the source confirmed that they had discussed the matter.
Another source from the federal cabinet agreed, saying that sending a warning would only make people focus more on their words. He suggested that their talk should be ignored for now.
The party’s main focus is on keeping the promises made during the elections, so it’s important to stay focused on that, the source added.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, speaking to The Express Tribune, highlighted the government’s strong focus on the economy, growth, and other important issues facing the nation.
When asked about the statements made by Latif and Sanaullah, he stated that the government is too busy dealing with important matters to worry about their comments.