Email
Print |
Zardari is solely responsible for the party’s prevailing ‘disintegration’.—APP/File |
ISLAMABAD: Disgr-untled PPP leaders have formed a new party in a bid to “save the legacy of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and its former chairperson Benazir Bhutto”.
The Pakistan Peoples Party Workers (PPP-W), registered with the Election Commission, was formally launched on Friday at a press conference addressed by its president Safdar Abbasi.
He was accompanied, among others, by his wife Naheed Khan, Sajida Mir (Secretary General of PPP-W), Rana Rizvi, Azra Bano, Sabiha Syed, Ibn-i-Rizvi, retired Lt Gen Ahsan, Fayyaz Khan, Rai Qaisar, S.H. Bokhari, Nawab Khattak and former president of PPP’s youth wing Shakeel Abbasi.
Pakistan Peoples Party Workers has been registered with the Election Commission
“We believe that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is solely responsible for the party’s worst defeat in the 2013 general elections and the prevailing ‘disintegration’ in the party. Therefore, we have come out to save it,” Safdar Abbasi said.
“Not just Zulfiqar and Fehmida Mirza, but we will contact all those leaders of the PPP who followed the ideology of Benazir Bhutto but were sidelined after 2007,” he added.
Asked why an alliance was being made against the PPP high-command, the former senator said: “We want accountability of those who are responsible for the downfall of PPP.”
A source in the PPP said Mr Abbasi and his associates had assured Sindh’s former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza and his wife of their support and told them that whatever was being done against them was unjustified.
Earlier this week, the PPP issued a show-cause notice to Fehmida Mirza, a former speaker of the National Assembly, for violating party rules.
She recently held a press conference in Badin apparently to protect her husband who has levelled serious allegations against Mr Zardari.
The source said Mr Abbasi would also contact other disgruntled PPP leaders like Babar Awan and Dr Israr Shah.
Some members of the PPP accused their leadership of ignoring party workers during the five-year tenure of the PPP-led government. They alleged that because of this many old and committed workers had left the party and joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
In Rawalpindi, three former Union Council naib nazims — Imran Hayat, Chaudhry Majeed and Sajid Abbasi — left the PPP and joined the PTI in 2013.
PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar told Dawn that the party was aware of Mr Abbasi’s move and his recent contacts with Mr Mirza.
“We know some of our opponents are gathering, but we have decided not to react to it. Let us see how it moves,” he said.
Mr Abbasi alleged that Mr Zardari, in the dual-office case in the Lahore High Court in February 2013, had disowned the PPP and described it as an NGO or a private association in order to save his presidency.
“We concluded that further silence would be criminal and took the matter to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The ECP, as usual, was manipulated and decision was given in favour of Latif Khosa who had applied for registration after the due date fixed by the commission,” he claimed.
“Later, we challenged the decision of ‘illegal registration of PPP’ in the Islamabad High Court to get justice. The case has been pending for two years and no formal hearing has taken place since then, despite several requests for hearing,” he said.
Asked what would he do if the court decided to hand the PPP over to the disgruntled leaders, Mr Abbasi said in that case the PPP-W would be merged into the PPP.
He said there were three main objectives to register the PPP-W — to reorganise the party on true ideological and democratic lines; to hold accountability of all those responsible for the present state of affairs in the PPP; and to democratise and institutionalise the party by holding intra-party elections at all levels.
Later, Mr Abbasi unveiled the manifesto of his party which covered many important national issues right from terrorism to Madressah reforms, minorities’ rights, education, poverty, governance, electoral reforms, policing system, economy, agriculture, foreign policy, defence, health, labour, media and energy.
Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play
Comments (36) Closed
It is tragic to see loyal lifelong workers and leaders of PPP have been forced to leave the party for Q League and others who have been only fair weather friends. PPP has lost its origin and with the arrogance their leadership is showing they have no hope in the future.
Manifesto seems good.....if they stick to it.
Bhutto's are gone!. I don't know how much mileage you can gain from this!. Shady politics!.
A Little too late.. PPP
Another dent in once-most-popular political party of Pakistan. Dedicated workers form the core of a political party and when they are ignored, factions erupt. The case of PPPP is no exception to this fact. Enough water has been passed under the bridge, but the chances of maintenance are always there. By leaving astute stubbornness, its leadership can revive the party once again into what it was known as the voice of the people of Pakistan.
Good move to end dynastic political culture from Pakistan.
A new party comprised of patriotic, honest, liberal, secular and enlightened leaders and members is sorely needed in Pakistan to offer an alternative to the two thoroughly corrupt, inept and rotten to the innards dynastic parties as well as to the right wing PTI fueled by a cult of a personality of an arrogant, clueless leader totally lacking vision and/or intelligence. This new party could be a start.
For goodness sake don't make the mistake of following Benazir's non existent ideology. PPP should not be a cult following but a political party.
Its high time to save PPP from disintegration and the only way is to stand against those who brought the party at the lowest popularity and failed in the last election to dominate all over the country, they are now limited to Sindh and soon to erode from the provincial level, too. It is no more a "Bhutto's" party or legacy.
Was it not PPP and its founder member who out of sheer arrogance felt so proud at enforcing the second amendment? How ironic then the party is all but gone and in the process of going out of sight and out of mind. There is someone up there who witnesses all this after which nature takes the right course of action - lesson to be learnt.
Corruptions by PPP Government in Sindh has created such a rent-seeking class whose interests are so deep and entangled that it is no more possible for any leaders in the party to think of manifestos or clean governance.
I am a Sindhi and my kids did not see Bhutto or Benazir (governing). What they see today is loot and plunder coupled with creation of horrible crime and politics nexus. To them PPP means bunch of corrupt and characterless feudals!
Time to write an obituary of PPP and Bhuttoism!
Where do i put my vote in.
“We know some of our opponents are gathering, but we have decided not to react to it. Let us see how it moves,” ... If you can not pro-act, you have no right to react as well.
Zardari's days are long over. Not sure if Safdar Abbasi/Naheed Khan will make an impression but surely would further push Zardari League inside grave a bit more.
Excellent! Excellento! Bravo! Viva! SHABASH! This is long overdue and maybe I will vote for the party whenever the elections are held. Salams
How many cracks in PPP? Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal have developed some differences which father in particular denies. Dr Mirza, former Sindh Interior Minister has opened his mouth against Zardari. Now formation of PPP-W is yet another blow to PPP which once was the most popular party fir quite many years. What can be reaction from Zardari and or Bilawal? I do not wish more to quit PPP and join PPP-W but it is very much feared that many who are with PPP will join the new set up. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait /zaidio4merdiplomat@hotmail.com
It has remained a practice since quite long. But why should any one be required or supposed to remain in the same party for ever ? There should be no heart burning at all for defections to other party or forming a new one of its own. And what message does Farhatullah Babar want to convey by saying "We have not reacted so far " ?? Instead PPP should give a serious thought to replace its CM who is not doing any thing at all for the welfare of masses and is neither good for the party itself.
sad news for ppp jeeyala
How funny..... The PPP criminals and gansgters are splitting now... fighting with each other. These people making now a new PPP themselves have been involved in bribery, nepotism, receiving kickbacks, misappropriation of government funds, pushing loyal PPP leaders and workers behind etc etc.... I guess they didn't manage to participate in the plunder created by Zardari and his gangsters. Lolss
All political parties in sindh have created a mess which needs to be rectified if they really want to be in......its good that these people are ma king them aware of their inefficiencies.
Hmmmm.. So there is a nexus between Mirza's antics and formation of a forward bloc within PPP.... Bad times for zardari
I think the real complaint is that they were ignored in last govt. I think that should join PTI if they wanna do something for Pakistan. They have just tried to make a pressure group and will be all happy if given senators hop one more time.
Abbasis would serve the casue of people ( if that is what in their hearts to serve the masses ! ) in a better way , Not to associate in any form or manner or use the Bhutto name or its ghost , to win over working class people . Bhutto idealism is dead and burried for ever , So Learn from all the previous attempts to reignite the mantra or use of the Bhutto corpses to win politically . I am an old PPP cum original Bhuto's worker . Even his daughter coiuld not win me over to vote for PPP since 1971 , You Abbasis will face the same fate if you try to use the Old ZAB Mantra/Ghost . Be original in your attempt , then may be people like me would try to listen to you , linking your name with PPP/Bhutto Mantra/Bhutto ghost , you will be a Vote less ( mine ) to start with
PPP lost its way when Zardari hijacked the party for his own use. He has done serious damage to it. It is good to see that people are trying to take it back from him.
Kaira, Khursheed Shah, Shiri Rehman etc type leaders are responsible of PPP decline since they only enjoyed the seat during Zardari era rather raising voice against corruption or neglecting workers. All were busy in making money or enjoying incentives. Nothing would happen now as Zardari has strong grip over Party. Salute to PPP loyal workers.
Makhdoon Amin Fahim, Aftab Sherpao, Failsal Saleh , Babar Awan, and Taj Haider must consider to join PPP-W if serious about public mandate. This is the best way to keep Zardari out of dirty politics.
Political parties in Pakistan are one man show. Jinnah died, so died Muslim league with him. Bhutto died, so did PPP with him. End of the story.
Any Party with out Zardari has my blessing. It's the workers that Bhutto stood for .
The PPP-W must truly be workers oriented . No more Waderas and Chaudries if it wants to reflect the legacy of Zulfiqar Bhutto.
Editing in its name required....it should be PPP-ZM (courtesy to Zulfiqar Mirza)...
They will contact disgruntled PP leader, Former Federal Law Minister, Babar Awan. This part of the story turned me off. Babar Awan is the most corrupt PPP politician. He is no person integrity and professional ethics. He distributed sweets when Bhutto was executed. They are forming another party because they did not get a piece of pie.
Registration not enough !! Where is leader ??
Now all you need is a fiery leader. Not mirza, someone national in scope. Bilawal? He will not do the job of grass root campaigning. It's hard to find another Bhutto who started something from nothing.
In any civilized country country, if leadership of any party fails badly in election the leadership is immediately changed. Mr Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto and other top level leaders of PPP should resign and give chance to to other leaders to salvage the party. Performance of PPP government after gaining power in 2007 elections has been very very poor that pushed Pakistan to failed state. PPP is now educed to rural Sindh, wsoon it will be confined to Bilawal House.
PPP-RIP
@Asad "Time to write an obituary of PPP and Bhuttoism!" I am not a Sindhi, but that should have no bearing upon what I write and think. Sure, write and celebrate obituaries, not just of PPP and Bhuttoism, but as well of the constitution that had been authored by the despised Bhutto, and the nuclear deterrent that has since protected Pakistanis' honor and life against Indian adventurism, and labor & land reforms, a foreign policy that opened doors to all weather friend China who is there to provide unwavering support of all kind to Pakistan. Write an obituary and a gleeful one for many of such precious gifts that Bhutto provided this country and then upon his hanging by an army general, some of the nation rewarded him by celebrating and distributing sweets and Biryani.