Pakistan: Divisions within the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) following the 1999 coup; the status of the relationship between the PML-N (Nawaz) and PML-Q (Quaid-e-Azam) (January 2002 - August 2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 31 August 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK100054.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Divisions within the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) following the 1999 coup; the status of the relationship between the PML-N (Nawaz) and PML-Q (Quaid-e-Azam) (January 2002 - August 2005), 31 August 2005, PAK100054.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/440ed73d11.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Divisions Within the Pakistan Muslim League (PML)
The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) was established as "the successor" to the All-India Muslim League in 1962 (Political Parties of the World 2005, 459). Since then, it has been "beset by factional rivalries and divisions" (ibid.; Dawn 26 Sept. 2003), one of which resulted in the establishment of the PML-N (Nawaz) in April 1992, immediately following the dismissal of the Nawaz government by president Ghulam Ishaq Khan (The Herald Oct. 2002, 30). The PML-N was in power following the 1997 elections until the military takeover of the government on 12 October 1999 (ibid.). The leader of the party is Mian Nawaz Sharif (ibid.) and the acting president is Javed Hashmi (Political Parties of the World 2005, 459).
Suspicion that the unity of the PML-N was fragile was reported by The Herald in March 1999 after Mian Azhar had "announced his resignation from the National Assembly ... after openly questioning the premier's [Sharif's] attitude towards party workers" (45). However, Sharif's father "intervened and convinced Mian Azhar to give the party leadership some more time" (The Herald Sept. 1999, 46). Six months later, The Herald reported that Mian Azhar made a "rebellious statement," and as a result of this, he was relieved of party responsibilities; reportedly "intelligence agencies were deputed to monitor his activities" (ibid.). The report went on to state that, according to Mian Azhar, the differences between him and the PML leadership centred around the leadership's treatment of the workers of the PML who "[were] being neglected" (ibid., 47).
In November 1999, Nawaz Sharif was accused of "criminal conspiracy to kill and [the] attempted hijacking of an aircraft" (CNN 11 Nov. 1999). Sharif was detained (EIU ViewsWire 28 Mar. 2000), but, in December 2000, he was released and allowed to go into exile on three conditions: that he not return for 10 years, that he not seek future political office in Pakistan, and that he forfeit all of his financial assets and property (IHT 12 Dec. 2000). Upon his departure to Saudi Arabia, Sharif appointed Javed Hashami as his successor (ABC 26 Mar. 2001) and acting president of the PML-N (Political Parties of the World 2005, 459).
Between March 2000 (EIU ViewsWire 28 Mar. 2000; The Economist 25 Nov. 2000; see also The Herald Dec. 2000, 35-36) and March 2001 (ibid. Mar. 2001, 48; Political Parties of the World 2005, 459), the PML-N split into two factions (The Economist 25 Nov. 2000; The Herald Oct. 2002, 31), resulting in the establishment of the PML-LM (Like-Minded), which, in 2001 was renamed the PML-Q (Quaid-e-Azam) (ibid.). According to an EIU ViewsWire news report, the PML-N split into one faction under the leadership of Raja Zafarul Haq and one faction led by Ejaz ul Haq, the son of the former military dictator Zia ul Haq (28 Mar. 2000). Raja Zafarul Haq's faction was described by the report as being loyal to Sharif and wanting to legally challenge the military regime (EIU ViewsWire 28 Mar. 2000). Ejaz ul Haq's faction was described as "pushing for parliament to be restored," but willing to abandon Sharif for "a new prime minister to be appointed by the military" (ibid.).
The initial phase of the split, which resulted in the establishment of the PML-Q, was marked by an attack on the PML House in Islamabad on 20 November 2000, by approximately 400 armed men who claimed to be PML workers (The Herald Dec. 2000, 35; ibid. Mar. 2001, 48; Dawn 21 Nov. 2000; The Economist 25 Nov. 2000). During the attack, the police reportedly "played a major role in helping the dissidents ... as they did not allow any leader from the Nawaz group to enter the premises" (The Herald Dec. 2000, 36). Similarly, the The Economist reported that the "[p]olice lent the rebels a hand" (25 Nov. 2000).
The PML-N had scheduled a meeting at PML House on that date to debate whether it should enter into "an anti-government alliance" with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) (The Herald Dec. 2000, 35; The Economist 25 Nov. 2000). Despite the attempts to shut down proceedings, the meeting was held at the residence of Sharif's wife, where the party announced the suspension of three of its leaders; Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Ejazul Haq, Mian Azhar, as well as a labour-wing leader, Faqir Hussain Bokhari (The Herald Dec. 2000, 36; Dawn 21 Nov. 2000; AFP 26 Nov. 2000). Following this, the working committee of the PML-N gave permission to the party's acting president to enter into a partnership with the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), of which the PPP is the largest component (The Herald Dec. 2000, 36). The GDA provided its formal acceptance of the PML-N's decision on 26 November 2000 (ibid.; AFP 26 Nov. 2000).
What appears to be the second and final phase of the split began on 11 February 2001 in Lahore "when some 150 PML activists – mainly from Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin – took control of the PML House, forcing the staff out of the premises and locking the gate" (The Herald Mar. 2001, 48). According to The Herald, the intruders were led by "suspended MPA [(Member of the Provincial Assembly)] Imtiaz Ranjha and secretary-general of the PML Gujrat, Khwaja Tufail" (ibid.). Although the caretaker of the PML House contacted the police and filed a complaint, "alleging that the intruders were armed with automatic weapons," no case was registered against them (ibid.).
Then, on 19 February 2001, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat seized the Punjab leadership of the PML "amidst circumstances that smacked of state interference" (ibid.).
According to The Herald, with the exception of the PPP, the PML-N is the only party that is not supportive of the military regime's policies (Nov 2001, 48c). The PML-Q on the other hand, is an ally of the Musharraf government (HRW 2003, 262; Financial Times 12 May 2004; ICG 22 Mar. 2004, 32) and of the military (ibid. 16 Jan. 2004, 3). It heads the coalition government in Islamabad and the provinces of Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan (ibid. 22 Mar. 2004, 33).
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), during the weeks leading up to the October 2002 elections, "the military government ... offered overt support to Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e Azam (PML-QA) candidates, while working hard to sideline two mainstream political parties: the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)" (9 Oct. 2002). That the government supports and "openly promote[s]" the PML-Q was also reported by Freedom House in its Freedom in the World 2005 report (11 Aug. 2005).
In a January 2003 article, the Rawalpindi-based Urdu-language newspaper, Nawa-i-Waqt, reported that the PML-Q "claim[ed] that it [was] the united PML because the PML (Chattha), PML (Wattoo) [and] PML (Functional) have joined it while the establishment is not ready to accept the PML (Nawaz) in any form" (14 Jan. 2003). That other factions of the PML had joined the PML-Q was once again reported, this time in an official announcement on 18 September 2003 by the PML-Q, which stated that five factions of the PML had decided to unite in one party called the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as its leader (Dawn 18 Sept. 2003; The News 18 Sept. 2003). The five factions are PML (Quaid-i-Azam) led by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, PML (Functional) led by Pir Pagara, PML (Junejo) led by Hamid Nasir Chattha, PML (Jinnah) led by Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, and PML (Zia) led by Ijazul Haq (ibid.; Dawn 18 Sept. 2003). However, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported that the factions merged officially in April 2004, although there were doubts about whether the new unified party had formally informed the Election Commission of its unification (Feb. 2005, 159). Reports indicated that while an invitation to join the united party had not been extended to the PML-N by the time of the announcements, such an invitation would be extended at a more "appropriate" time, though not specified by the party (Dawn 18 Sept. 2003; The News 18 Sept. 2003). However, several months prior to the merger, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif, brother of exiled Nawaz Sharif (The Economist 25 Nov. 2000), "ruled out any possibility of reconciliation with the PML (Quaid-i-Azam)" (Dawn 27 June 2003). According to an article by the independent daily English language newspaper, The News, the PML has over twelve factions, though it did not name them (18 Sept. 2003). For more detailed information on the history and divisions within the PML prior to September 2003, please refer to the attached news report.
In early August 2005, PakTribune, an independent online news wire, reported that the leadership of the ruling PML-Q had failed to issue clear guidelines to its party, which caused the party to split or form rival groups within the party that were "pitting against each other in the local government polls arena" (2 Aug. 2005). According to PakTribune, some of the emerging groups formed alliances with other political parties such as the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) (2 Aug. 2005).
Treatment of Members, Supporters and Activists of the PML-N
The following are examples of treatment of members, supporters and activists of the PML-N by police, military, government bodies and unidentified individuals:
14 June 2002 – The police "baton-charged" PML-N leaders and workers on their way to a rally "to express solidarity with Kashmiri people" (The News 15 June 2002). This resulted in the arrest of PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haque, senior vice president Zafar Ali Shah, Secretary of Information Siddiqul Farooq, Chaudhry Tanveer, Dr. Basharat Jazbi and 30 other participants (ibid.). According to the PML-N Joint Secretary of Punjab Sardar Naseem, "the police arrested about 300 PML-N leaders and workers from different places in [the] District [of] Rawalpindi" (ibid.).
September 2002 – Pakistani journalists and PML-N and PPP members alleged that the police, in light of the upcoming elections, raided PPP and PML-N offices and harassed PPP and PML-N workers and candidates "at the behest of the government" (HRW 9 Oct. 2002).
21 September 2002 – Responding to a variety of complaints, the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan issued a statement in which he warned the police "not to harass any contesting candidate" running for office in the October 2002 elections (ibid.).
6 October 2002 – In the Jhelum district of Punjab, police "forcibly" closed two PPP election offices and one PML-N office and "beat up their workers" (ibid.).
10 October 2002 – Elections were held in Pakistan on 10 October 2002 (The Herald Jan. 2003, 102; ibid. Oct. 2002). According to The Herald, "the military regime was bent on cobbling together a government led by the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PMLQ), despite the party's minority status in the Sindh Assembly. In the process, arms were twisted and rules flouted on a level unsurpassed even at the federal level" (ibid.; HRW 2003, 262).
12 October 2002 – Nawa-i-Wagt reported that despite the pressure exerted by the government PML-N did well in Lahore and other cities of Punjab in the October elections (12 Oct. 2002).
7 June 2003 – PML-N senator Saadia Abbasi's home was attacked by unidentified persons (PPI 7 June 2003). Speaking on the attack, Nawaz Sharif stated that "the incident is part of the latest campaign of the government to harass opposition parliamentarians particularly [those] belonging to PML(N)" (ibid.).
12 April 2004 – Acting president of the PML-N, Javed Hashmi was convicted "in closed proceedings on charges of sedition and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison" (Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 1.e; Freedom House 11 Aug. 2005; HRCP Feb. 2005, 151, 155, 156). The conviction followed Hashmi's arrest in October 2003 after he released a letter written by army officers that criticized Musharraf (ibid.; Country Reports 2004 28 Feb. 2005, Sec. 1.e; Freedom House 11 Aug. 2005). HRCP expressed concerns that the trial was "not transparent or fairly conducted, that the sentence was extremely harsh and that the verdict showed political bias" (Feb. 2005, 156).
11 May 2004 – Police prevented activists of the PML-N and the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) from welcoming the attempted return to Pakistan of PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif (HRCP Feb. 2005, 151, 157).
June 2004 – The vice president of the PML-N in Punjab, Pir Binyamin Rizvi, was killed in Lahore (ibid., 157).
October 2004 – PML-N claimed that its leaders were pressured to merge with the PML-Q adding that its leaders were approached for this purpose by members of government (ibid., 159).
October 2004 – "Dozens" of PML-N activists were arrested in Lahore ahead of the funeral of Mian Sharif, the father of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif (ibid., 158). PML-N claimed that the Punjab government had disrupted funeral plans by refusing to hand the body over to family members and party leaders and by forcing the burial to take place at the family's Raiwind Estate (ibid.).
November 2004 – Mian Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were denied permission to return to Pakistan for the burial of their father (ibid., 151). The government denied that Nawaz and Sharif had made any request to return (ibid., 158).
Information and reports of arrests of PML-Q leaders and/or workers could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 26 November 2000. "Opposition Alliance Admits Sharif's Party, Plans Drive for Democracy." (NEXIS)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 26 March 2001. "Pakistan's Opposition in Disarray Over Deposed PM, Nawaz Sharif."
Cable News Network (CNN). 11 November 1999. "Pakistan's Sharif Accused of Conspiracy to Kill, Attempted Hijacking."
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004. 28 February 2005. "Pakistan." United States Department of State. Washington, DC.
Dawn. 26 September 2003. Mahmood Zaman. "Merger an Attempt to Unify PML Again." The Economist. 25 November 2000. "Strange Alliance." (NEXIS) EIU ViewsWire. 28 March 2000. "Pakistan Politics: Military Continues Crackdown on Corruption." (NEXIS) Financial Times (UK). 12 may 2004. "Political Exile Fails in Bid to Re-enter." (Dialog) Freedom House. 11 August 2005. "Pakistan." Freedom in the World 2005. The Herald [Karachi]. January 2003. Idrees Bakhtiar. "Puppets on a String." Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). February 2005. "Political Participation." State of Human Rights 2004. Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2003. "Pakistan." World Report 2003. International Crisis Group (ICG). 22 March 2004. Report No. 77. Devolution in Pakistan: Reform or Regression? International Herald Tribune (IHT) [Neuilly-sur-Seine, France]. 12 December 2000. Pamela Constable. "Sharif's Exile Provokes Anger over Corruption." (NEXIS) Nawa-i-Waqt [Rawalpindi, in Urdu]. 14 January 2003. "Pakistan Daily Urges Cooperation of Political Forces, Foiling US 'Conspiracies'." (Dialog) The News [Islamabad]. 18 September 2003. Shakil Shaikh. "Paksitan: Five Factions of Muslim League Merge to Form One Party." (FBIS-NES-2003-0918 22 Sept. 2003/WNC) Pakistan Press International (PPI). 7 June 2003. "Nawaz Sharif Condemns Attack on Saadia Abbasi Home." (Dialog). PakTribune. 2 August 2005. "Ruling PML Splits into Rival Groups in Upcoming LB Polls." Political Parties of the World. 2005. 6th Edition. Edited by Bogdan Szajkowski. "Pakistan." London: John Harper Publishing. Attachment Dawn. 26 September 2003. Mahmood Zaman. "Merger an Attempt to Unify PML Again." Additional Sources Consulted Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN).
_____. 18 September 2003. Rafaqat Ali. "Five PML Factions Merge: PM Says Nawaz Group to be Contacted at Right Time."
_____. 27 June 2003. "Shahbaz Ready to Return, Face Trial."
_____. 21 November 2000. Faraz Hashmi. "Opponents Occupy Party Secretariat: Pro-Nawaz Group Decides to Join GDA."
_____. October 2002. Azmat Abbas. "Party Profiles."
_____. November 2001. Syed Ali Dayan Hasan. "No Pain, No Gain."
_____. April 2001. Mubashir Zaidi. "Deja Vu."
_____. March 2001. Azmat Abbas. "Operation PML."
_____. December 2000. Mubashir Zaidi. "A Spooky Split."
_____. September 1999. Zaigham Khan. "'I Will Not Leave the PML, So What Do They Want to Punish Me for?'"
_____. March 1999. Sachal Ahmed. "The Mian's Brief Revolt."
_____. 9 October 2002. Brad Adams. "Pakistan: Entire Election Process 'Deeply Flawed'."
_____. 16 January 2004. Unfulfilled Promises:Pakistan's Failure to Tackle Extremism. Report No. 73.
_____. 12 October 2002. "Leading Daily Urges President to Accept New Trends in Pakistan Politics." (BBC Monitoring 13 Oct. 2002)
_____. 15 June 2002. Muhammad Anis. "Pakistan: Police Blocks Muslim League Rally to Express Solidarity with Kashmiris." (FBIS-NES-2002-0615 15 June 2002/WNC)
