The APML, which is already facing credibility crisis due to some controversial policies of Musharraf during his regime, is in hot waters because of controlling meaningful party offices under a new arrangement after APML’s registration.
The sources in the APML privy to the newest developments in the party told this scribe on Friday that party founder, Pervez Musharraf against the backdrop of rifts over party offices, would hold a series of meetings in Dubai next month to announce the officebearers of main party offices.
They said that all the party offices were temporary or honorary, which were being held by party leaders before the registration of the APML and the new assignments would be given to party men after the Dubai meeting, however some of the party leaders who enjoy the close support of Musharraf were not ready to surrender their incumbent party positions due to ‘special controls’ in their hands.
They further said that one of the major party office, which became source of confrontation among certain party leaders was finance secretary office, as the stated leaders believe that it had not been handled properly and they had been facing problems in getting on-time funds to accomplish certain party goals. APML’s finance office was being run by Major General (r) Rashid Qureshi, a close aide of Pervez Musharraf.
Sources quoted senior party leaders as saying that their requests had been turned down on several occasions or delayed by the finance office.
When contacted, senior APML leader, Dr Sher Afghan Niazi while confirming the party meeting in Dubai next month to finalise the party offices against the backdrop of party’s registration with Election Commission, said that the current party offices were temporary and they would get the new assignments next month.
He also said that he had already started appointing presidents and general secretaries of the districts and tehsils instead of organisers after the party registration and would take the list of his nominees with him to Dubai.
Meanwhile, the APML, which virtually divided into two groups after its inception includes Barrister Muhammad Saif, Fawad Chaudhry, Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain camp, while the another group consists of Major General (r) Rashid Qureshi, Dr Amjad and Attiqa Odho.
While, some party leaders of Chaudhrys camp claimed that Dr Sher Afghan Niazi and Ahmed Raza Kasuri also fall in their camp.
However, according to some APML activists Ahmed Raza Kasuri desires a leading role second to Musharraf in the party, while Dr Sher Afghan Niazi being a seasoned politician also believes in working independently without giving any importance to the second-line APML leadership. The APML sources maintained that some of the party leaders have told Musharraf that Qureshi and his followers in the party did not possess any political experience and were not popular among the party men and their role should be made honorary in the new arrangement of part offices.
However, APML founder have not given them his nod in this regard and delayed the matter till the Dubai meeting.
The same party leaders giving one of the unpopular actions of Qureshi told Musharraf that Hafiz Ghulam Mohiyuddin, who was claimant of City chapter president, had allegedly embezzled Rs 1.5 million with the connivance of the incumbent finance secretary for a public moot at Ravi Town.
They further maintained that Hafiz Hafiz Ghulam Mohiyuddin, who appointed a local party office holder in Ravi Town with alleged criminal background is likely to be shown the door.
