HYDERABAD: The prime minister’s political foray into Sindh on Thursday tends to show that he is trying to build up a ‘federal image’ for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the run-up to next year’s general election.

By visiting Thatta’s Shirazis in spite of reports that they are in touch with the Pakistan Peoples Party for yet another somersault — their hallmark over the years — Nawaz Sharif made it clear that he wants to win them over to his side.

Read: Sharif pledges to heal wounds of Sindh

Thatta is a district from where former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto won elections in 1970. The non-party elections of 1985, however, saw the emergence of the Shirazis. Since then they have been hobnobbing with dictators, PPP, PML-N and PML-Q to stay relevant on the province’s political chessboard.

Exuberance was writ large on the prime minister’s face when he announced a number of schemes for Thatta on the Shirazis’ advice at a public meeting. A Sindh PML-N leader pointed out that it was Mr Sharif’s first ‘political visit’ to Sindh after coming to power in 2013. He had been paying only “official visits” hitherto.

“I agree the Shirazis’ track record [of switching loyalties] is questionable. Nawaz Sharif must have heard about their recent overtures to the PPP,” the PML-N leader observed.

“I am not sure whether the Shirazis will be with us next year given their history....Mian Sahib hugged them simply because they have been with him for the past five years.”

It is no secret that the Shirazis had obtained a PPP ticket for the 2013 elections, but didn’t submit it with their candidature and ultimately decided to opt for the PML-N platform. They won one National Assembly seat and three of the Sindh Assembly.

“Until last week they [Shirazis] were in touch with us at different levels,” a Sindh PPP leader claimed. Without mincing words, he said the Shirazis were unable to win district councils. “Losses in two district councils must have affected their political standing,” he quipped.

The people of Thatta recall the Shirazis first supported Gen Ziaul Haq and then PPP, Pervez Musharraf and the PML-Q. The list shows their survival instincts never desert them. Naz Sahto, an analyst at a television channel, summed up their career thus: “The Shirazis of lower Sindh and the Mahars of upper Sindh are notorious for shifting their loyalties for political gains. When they joined the PPP during Qaim Ali Shah’s 1988 rule the PPP cadre was not happy.”

The PML-N, historically, has never been serious about gaining a foothold in Sindh. Hence the PPP continues to take this province for granted. The latter has made major gains recently by winning over a number of PML-F leaders to its side.

At the height of the 2013 election campaign, Mr Sharif came to Sindh to sign a seven-point declaration with the Sindh United Party, headed by G. M. Syed’s grandson, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah. But since then he has hardly done anything to build up on the antipathy such groups have for the PPP.

And Jalal Shah doesn’t hide his bitterness.

“We were sadly mistaken to think that Nawaz Sharif can run a true federation,” regrets Shah. “Now the Shirazis are not going cling to PML-N till the 2018 elections. I see no role for the PML-N in Sindh for now.”

The PML-N appears to be least bothered by how the PPP is faring in Sindh. Even the PPP’s plans to neutralise opponents before the general election don’t worry the PML-N.

It is evident the Nawaz League has not been able to build a strong party structure in this province. Its allies are now having second thoughts. Perhaps Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto was the first to spot Mr Sharif’s indifference to Sindh.

“Things are no different for Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi of Naushahro Feroze or Sadruddin Shah of the PML-F,” according to a former PML-N leader.

He thinks the Shirazis’ decision to invite the prime minister to Thatta indicates that they are unsure about their prospects in Thatta. “And since the PPP has been able to make inroads, it sees no need to make big offers to politicians and the electorate, whereas the federal government has released millions to its MNAs in Sindh”, he observed.

Jami Chandio, a political analyst, points out that Sindh has never been a priority for the PML-N. “Nawaz Sharif just wants a token presence here to portray the PML-N as a federal party and that’s what he is doing again before the next elections. He wants to win over a few electables for the National Assembly.”

Jami recalled an interesting conversation with Nawaz Sharif. “At a breakfast before the 2013 polls I suggested to him that there is space for other federal parties like PML-N in Sindh. So why don’t you start working there. He replied ‘Zardari sahib mind karain gay” (Asif Ali Zardari will take offence if I start working in Sindh).”

It turns out, he says ruefully, a “deal exists between these two parties not to disturb each other’s apple cart”.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2017