Pakistan Muslim League (N)

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Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) PML-N
(پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن
Leader Nawaz Sharif
Shahbaz Sharif
Raja Zafar ul Haq
Nisar Ali Khan
Chairman Raja Zafar-ul-Haq
President Nawaz Sharif
Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra
Founded November 16, 1988 (1988-11-16)
Split from Pakistan Muslim League
Headquarters Punjab House
Central Secretariat
Parliament Lodges at Islamabad, Pakistan
Student wing Muslim Student Federation (MSF)
Youth wing Nawaz Sharif Force
Ideology National conservatism
Western conservatism
Centre-right
Official colors Green
    
Seats in National Assembly
91 / 339
Seats in Senate
14 / 100
[1]
Election symbol
Lion
Website
Official website
Party flag
Flag of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q).svg

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (Urdu: پاکستان مسلم لیگ ن; acronym: PML-(N), PMN-N, and PMLN) is a center-right, conservative political party in Pakistan, being the largest conservative political force and second largest political party, only second to the Pakistan Peoples Party, roughly representing 19.6% of votes in the Parliament (both in Senate and National Assembly), in the latest national parliamentary elections.[2] The Pakistan Muslim League (N) is currently headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is also its president.[2][3]

The party's platform generally reflects conservatism in Pakistan's political spectrum, in contrast to the center-left Pakistan Peoples Party — a social democratic political force — and the Awami National Party. Although its power of center lies in the heartland of itself in Punjab province[4], it also retains considerable support in the more densely populated provinces of Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, and the Gilgit-Baltistan. It is the only party in the history of Pakistan to receive a two-thirds majority in parliament outright through parliamentary elections, in 1997.[5]

Contents

[edit] Breakaway factions

Main articles: Muslim League Schisms, Convention Muslim League, West Pakistan, East Pakistan, and All-India Muslim League

The Pakistan Muslim League was founded in 1962, as a successor to the previously disbanded Muslim League (itself the successor to the pre-partition All-India Muslim League).[4] After the independence and creation, the Muslim League suffered with internal political disagreements, lack of political motives and public reforms, and inadequate administration preparations and mismanagement. The list below shows the well known breakaway factions, although many minor factions existed throughout the history:

[edit] Historical background

Main articles: Islamic Democratic Alliance, Pakistani general election, 1988, Pakistani general election, 1990, Pakistani general election, 1993, and Pakistani general election, 1997

Its modern history started in 1988 parliamentary elections when Pakistan Muslim League that was led by former prime minister Mohammed Khan Junejo split into two factions, one was led by Nawaz Sharif the then chief minister of Punjab Province and the other by Junejo. The PML-N gained prominence 1993 parliamentary elections when it was the part of the right-wing Islamic Democratic Alliance (IDA), but soon the alliance was over with resignation of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister. At this time, the party was among closest to civil bureaucracy, establishment, and the Pakistan Armed Forces, had close ties and influence in Pakistan Armed Forces' appointments and their military strategies.[6]

[edit] 1997 Parliamentary elections

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) struck its remarkable, biggest, and most notable achievement in 1997 parliamentary elections, held on February 3, 1997.[7] After securing the Two-thirds majority in the parliamentary, the only political party to have gained Two-thirds majority since the independence of the country in 1947, roughly fifty years past since the independence.[5] During this time, it was the largest conservative party, with its members occupying 137 seats out of 207, roughly representing the 45.9%.[5] In 1997, the party secured its winning with an overwhelming mandate, absolutely light and slight opposition.[7] On February 18, 1997, with Nawaz Sharif obtained a vote of confidence, the Pakistan Muslim League assumed the government of Pakistan.[7]

[edit] Power politics

Main articles: Indo-Pakistani War of 1999, Chagai-I, Pokhran-II, Chagai-II, Atlantique Incident, 1999 Pakistani coup d'état, and PIA Flight 544

In 1998, the law and order situation came under the PML-N's control and economical recovery that was also secured.[7] A number of constitutional amendments were made to put the country on parliamentary democracy.[7] In May of 1998, the PML-N government led by Prime minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the six nuclear tests, in response to Indian nuclear tests.[7] The tests were extremely popular and PML-N's image and prestige that arise in a record level.[7] However, in 1998, the PML-N government effectively dismissed general Jehangir Karamat (see Dismissal of General Jehangir Karamat) that plummeted the public ratings, but marked perception of the civilian control of the military.[7] Due to its power politics and repeatedly dismissals of the military leadership soured its relations with Pakistan Armed Forces and the public ratings that gradually went down.[7]

Despite its heavy public mandate, the serious disagreement within the party began to take place and finally, the 1999 coup d'état took place to end PML-N's government.[7] Controversially, in 1999, the party was significantly divided further effecting Nawaz Sharif's trial in military court, there were no massive protests were held by party, leaders remaining silent and remained supportive towards the military action against Nawaz Sharif. In 2001, the party further divided into another factions and its dissenter formed Pakistan Muslim League that later called Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) (or PML-Q) became allies of then president Pervaiz Musharraf.[6] In 2001, Muslim League (Nawaz) formally adopted name of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also known as PML(N).[6]

[edit] 2002 parliamentary elections

Both the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and its dissenter, PML-Q, are now a registered party name with Election Commission.[6] During 2002 Pakistani general election, the PML-N performed poorly, only won 9.4% of the popular vote and 14 out of 272 elected members, the worst defeat since its inception in 1988.[6] In the 2008 election, the party won urban votes and dominated the Punjab Assembly, earning a total of 91 seats in the National Assembly, just below the Pakistan Peoples Party, which won 121 seats; the parties agreed on forming a coalition government. In 2011, the PML-N established its branch in Kashmir Province in 2011 to participate in Kashmir general elections.

[edit] 2008 parliamentary election

Main article: Pakistani general election, 2008

After returning to Pakistan, the PML (N) contested the 2008 general election, demanding a restoration of the judges sacked under the emergency rule placed by President Pervez Musharraf and removal of Musharraf as President. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Sharif announced that the PML (N) would boycott the polls, but after some time and conversations with the co-chairman of the PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz announced that the party would contest in the polls and began to rally in the Punjab areas. On February 18, 2008, after the polls were closed and the results had been announced, the PML-N gained 68 seats in the National Assembly, just behind the PPP. They announced that they would have discussions on forming a coalition with the PPP which would have half the seats in the 342 seat Parliament. In a press conference on February 19, Nawaz called for President Pervez Musharraf to step down. Nawaz and Zardari agreed on forming a coalition, and Nawaz announced that he and his party gave the PPP the right to choose the next Prime Minister.

On May 13, 2008, the PML (N) ministers resigned from the government due to a disagreement related to the reinstatement of the judges. Nawaz said that the PML (N) would support the government without participating in it. Zardari, hoping to preserve the coalition, told Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to reject the resignations.[8]

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on June 27, 2008, won three and two by-election seats, respectively, to the national parliament. Polls were postponed for the sixth seat in Lahore due to Nawaz Sharif's eligibility contest. A court ruled he was ineligible due to an old conviction, amid a government appeal in the Supreme Court, which will hear the case on June 30, thus postponing the vote in the constituency.[9] The two parties also won 19 of 23 provincial assembly seats where by-elections were held. The results will not affect the February 18 general election results in which Benazir Bhutto's PPP won 123 seats in the 342-seat National Assembly and Sharif's party came second with 91, while Pervez Musharraf's party came a poor third with 54 seats. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) won eight provincial assembly seats, while the PPP won seven provincial seats.[10][11] On August 25, 2008, Nawaz Sharif announced that Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui would be Pakistan Muslim League (N) nominee to replace Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan.[12]

Party leaders outside their London office after meeting with their leader Nawaz Sharif in December 2006.

[edit] Structural composition

The General Council Meeting (GCM) served its major platform to elect presidents and secretaries while it is also responsible for promoting PML-N activities. Its current president is Nawaz Sharif. The General Council Meeting raises funds, and coordinates campaign strategy while there are local committees every provinces and most large cities, counties and legislative districts, but they have far less money and influence than the national body. The Central Secretariat and the Parliament Lodges of Pakistan Parliament play important roles in recruiting strong state candidates.

[edit] Ideology and political positions

[edit] Economic policies

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) includes the fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, neoconservatives, bioconservatives, Environmental conservatism and most importantdly, the national and religious conservative. During its years, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) emphasis thethe role of free markets and individual achievement as the primary factors behind economic prosperity, deregulation of all segments of economic order, and strong base of capitalism.[13] In 1991, the PML-N's government established the National Highway Authority followed by inaugurating the M2 Motorways in 1997.[13]

The Pakistan Muslim League-N generally opposed the labor union managements and large scale worker's union.[13] The Party believes in that "prosperous agriculture is the backbone of national prosperity and diversification of the rural economy by expanding non-farm rural employment is critical for the alleviation of poverty". During its federal government, the PML-N successfully privatized the major heavy industries under its Planned industrial development programme. [14]

[edit] Environmental policies

Main articles: Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, 2011 dengue outbreak in Pakistan, and 2012 Pakistan fake medicine crisis

In 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency was established by PML-N's government and its Ministry of Environment was one of the most notable ministry to protect the national conservation and forestry in the country. In 1997, the environmental PSA were regularly announced paid by the government to enhance and promote the environmental awareness in public.

However, its environmental policies remained a subject of on-going controversies, often criticize for ignoring the health and environmental policies despite its party declaration. The PML-N's provisional government in Punjab Province came under intense media, opposition, and public anger after failing to counter the Dengue fever outbreak due to its lack of apathy and inadequate steps and seriousness to enforce environmental awareness and regulations. In recent, the prestige of PML-N's also suffered after the government's Health and Environment ministry failed to properly scanned the quality of medicines, resulting in major counterfeit and environmental crises that put party's environmental and health policies in great doubts.

[edit] Science and politics

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) takes credit for ordering and authorizing the country's first nuclear tests (see Chagai-I and Chagai-II) despite the amid international pressure. It is also responsible for establishing the Pakistan Antarctic Programme as part of its science and technology strategy. With its inverse force, Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) takes credit for its contribution to enhancing the nuclear deterrence, and the nuclear power expansion, first establishing the CHASNUPP-I, expansion as part of its nuclear policy.

[edit] Foreign policy issues

Main article: Pakistan's role in the War on Terror

The party has been long advocated for broader and stronger relations with United States, China, United Kingdom, European Union, Singapore, Malaysia, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and India.[15] In 1999, the party's government successfully signed the Lahore Declaration with India.[15]

The Pakistan Muslim League-N remains skeptical about country's role in war on terror, although it firmly opposed to religious extremism and terrorism in all its manifestations.[16] It remains unsupported towards the military operations in Western fronts to curbed down the militancy, with many PML-N's intellectuals regarding the War on terror as a campaign against Islam.[16] During its previous tenure from 1997 to 1999, the PML(N) government took a series of measures to control terrorist group and counter their activities, by first establishing the Anti Terrorism Courts.[16] The PML-N's leadership remains an avid supporter of Indian-held Kashmir, and numerous times, it had made it clear that the party will "never compromise this long standing position on Kashmir dispute".[16]

[edit] Members

Nawaz Sharif (President of PML(N))

[edit] Quaid (patron)

[edit] Presidents

[edit] Chairman

[edit] Secretary General

[edit] Senior Vice President (2011-present)

[edit] Other leaders

    [edit] Corruption scandals and violence

    Although twice elected, ordered the nuclear tests, and the economical recovery, the party and its members has been criticized for widespread corruption and extrajudicial killings, using themeasure of extreme violence to curbed down the liberal forces, notable the MQM, in its time of governing [3]

    [edit] 2011 Party Rally Scandal

    In 2011, During at the party's election campaign tour in Punjab Province, the Punjab Government reportedly spent Rs. 4 million in arranging a rally for Nawaz Sharif, public funds were used to prove the tents, 9000 chairs, renting a stadium and people attending the rally where also given free fuel.[20] All at the cost of the Punjab Government, despite the fact Nawaz Sharif holds no public office, the use of public funds for a party rally waned the political image and the scandal for party's image and public service that declined.[20]

    [edit] 2011 helicopter scandal

    In 2011 during an election campaign in Azad Kashmir, Sharif used government owned and funded helicopter, even though he does not hold public office.[21]

    [edit] Terrorism funding scandal

    In 2011, The Express Tribune released its investigative report citing that, "Malik Ishaq, the Leader of the LeJ terrorist group, responsible for Marriott Hotel bombing and Sri Lankan cricket team attack, has enjoyed Punjab government’s financial payment ever since the Pakistan Muslim League (N) came to power in 2008", an accusation and statement also released by the civil servant speaking on condition of anonymity.[22]

    [edit] 2011 letters for Jobs Scandal

    In the first week of February 2011, the Punjab Agriculture Research Department (PARD) advertised almost 133 jobs in Faisalabad.[23] Many thousands applied but it emerged jobs where given to individuals who had letters of recommendations from PML(N) politicians.[23]

    [edit] See also

    [edit] References

    1. ^ Islamabad Desk (2 March 2012). "Polls showing Each Party securing seats". Jang News Group, 2012. http://jang.com.pk/jang/mar2012-daily/02-03-2012/u98689.htm. Retrieved 2 March 2012. 
    2. ^ a b Carr, Adam. "2008 Parliamentary elections results". Adam Carr. Adam Carr and Pakistan Election Commission. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/p/pakistan/pakistan2008.txt. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    3. ^ a b Editorial (Updated). "Pakistan Muslim League (N)". Dawn Newspapers. http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/17/pml-n-2.html. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    4. ^ a b Military Desk. "Pakistan Muslim League (N)". Global Security. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/pml.htm. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    5. ^ a b c Government of Pakistan. "Parliamentary elections in 1997". Pakistan Election Commission. Pakistan Election Commission, 1997. http://elections.com.pk/contents.php?i=7#1997. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    6. ^ a b c d e Editorial. "Pakistan Muslim League". September 24, 2008. The Economist. http://www.economist.com/node/12253224. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Story of Pakistan. "Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League". Story of Pakistan (Pakistan Muslim League (N)). http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A088. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    8. ^ "Pakistan's Zardari rejects ally's resignations", Reuters (International Herald Tribune), May 16, 2008.
    9. ^ news.bbc.co.uk, Ruling parties win Pakistan polls
    10. ^ reuters.com, Sharif's party does well in Pakistani by-elections
    11. ^ xinhuanet, Pakistan ruling coalition sweeps by-elections
    12. ^ CNN Wire: Sharif withdraws party from Pakistan ruling coalition
    13. ^ a b c PMLN. "PML-N Economic review". Pakistan Muslim League-N Economic. http://www.pmln.org/issues/is_19_agricultural-and-rural-development.pmln. Retrieved 20 February 2012. 
    14. ^ PML-N. "PML's Industrial growth". http://www.pmln.org/issues/is_22_industrial-development.pmln. Retrieved 20 February 2012. 
    15. ^ a b PMLN. "National Security and Foreign Policy". Pakistan Muslim League-N. http://www.pmln.org/issues/is_25_national-security-and-foreign-policy.pmln. Retrieved 20 February 2012. 
    16. ^ a b c d PMLN. "Extremism and Terrorism". PMLN-Extremism and Terrorism. http://www.pmln.org/issues/is_24_extremism-and-terrorism.pmln. Retrieved 20 February 2012. 
    17. ^ http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C04%5C08%5Cstory_8-4-2009_pg7_29
    18. ^ [1]
    19. ^ [2]
    20. ^ a b Abdul Manan (October 20, 2011). "The Public funds used for Sharif rally in DG Khan". The Pakistan Tribune. http://tribune.com.pk/story/278030/public-funds-used-for-sharif-rally-in-dg-khan/. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    21. ^ Press Release (22:31 PST Monday, June 20, 2011). "Nawaz spoke Bal Thakeray’s language: Babar". The News International, 22:31 PST Monday, June 20, 2011. http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=17347. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    22. ^ Asad Kharal (July 16, 2011). "LeJ’s Malik received monthly stipend from Punjab govt". Express Tribune. http://tribune.com.pk/story/210827/lejs-malik-received-monthly-stipend-from-punjab-govt/. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 
    23. ^ a b Ansar Abbasi (Friday, June 10, 2011). "Punjab stuffing PML-N men in govt jobs illegally". The News International, Friday, June 10, 2011. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=6602&Cat=13&dt=6/10/2011. Retrieved 23 February 2012. 

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