Among PPP ranks: Differences emerge over nomination of Mithi district council chairman

Newly elected councillors protest against nomination but CM manages to bring them round

MITHI: Newly elected councillors of the Mithi district seemed to be at loggerheads with the central leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as they filed resignations on Friday over the nomination of Ghulam Hyder Samejo as Mithi district council chairman. However, the chief minister managed to appease them.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah held a meeting with the newly elected councillors at the residence of MPA Dr Mahesh Malani. The 38 councillors told the chief minister that they had handed over a file of resignations in protest against what they said was the imposition of an unjust and non-political decision of nominating a person who has always been 'in the camp of PPP arch-rivals'.

When PPP workers were facing fake FIRs and arrests during the tenure of former Sindh chief minister Arbab Rahim, the newly nominated chairman was in the assembly and was adamant to punish PPP jiyalas. "This is unacceptable," they said to the CM. "We will accept whatever decision you will take but at least acknowledge our genuine grievances."



The chief minister tried to pacify them. "We have to uphold party interest instead of personal interests," he said, adding that he has always supported workers because he is himself a party worker. He presented a resolution, after which all the councillors withdrew their protest and expressed confidence in the leadership of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto and former president Asif Zardari and reposed confidence in the chief minister. The councillors had lunch with the chief minister but continued to complain against decisions being imposed on them.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2016.