Long-distance leadership fails to resolve internal rifts within PPP

Local PPP leaders develop differences, threaten to field own candidates against party

KARACHI: As the first phase of the local government elections draws to a close, the differences among the local leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are beginning to surface.

Traditionally, the 'baradari' system or family lineage dictates which candidates find the support of the local community. Since most leaders are eyeing the coveted positions of the mayor, the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the municipal corporations, committees and district councils, they are threatening to contest their own candidates against the party ones.

The PPP leadership is currently residing in Dubai and that has made it difficult for them to resolve the issues emerging at local level.

Last week, the differences between Sardar Ahmed Chandio and Nadir Magsi, both of whom lead their respective tribes in Kamber-Shahdadkot district, could not be resolved. "Masgi called Asif Ali Zardari in Dubai and expressed his grievances against Chandio, threatening to field his own candidates against party nominees," said the leader. Shortly after this call, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal rushed to Kamber-Shahdadkot to meet Magsi. "Adi Faryal [Talpur] will come soon to hear your grievances and party tickets will be allotted to candidates with your consultation," he was quoted as saying.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Magsi clarified that he had no personal rivalry with Chandio. "All decisions pertaining to the nomination of candidates are supposed to be made by the party's district-level board," said Magsi. "But, unfortunately, the unilateral decisions are made at Chandio's bungalow which is unjust."

This is not the only rift to have developed on PPP's turf. "Many other influential leaders have started [using] pressure tactics to demand top slots for their family members," revealed a party official, adding that there has been dispute between opposition leader Khursheed Shah and MNA Islamuddin Shaikh over the coveted post of mayor for the Sukkur Municipal Corporation. However, the two archrivals addressed a joint press conference in Sukkur on Wednesday, dismissing to some extent reports of rifts between them.

PPP's Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani has demanded chairmanship of the district council in Kashmore district while leaders, Saleem Jan Mazari and Gul Mohammad Jakhrani, also eye this lucrative seat.

Apart from this, the PPP leaders had no plans to give the chairmanship of Shikarpur district to the Durrani family of Garhi Yasin but Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani has already started lobbying against the likely candidate, Hameer Soomro, the chief of the Soomro tribe, who has recently joined the PPP.

These developments forced the PPP leaders in Dubai to meet on Monday and Tuesday. "It was decided in the meeting that no tickets will be given to the kith and kin of parliamentarians, such as MNAs, MPAs or senators," said a party official, adding that another meeting is likely be held on September 14 in Dubai.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2015.