Asif Zardari takes up Amin Faheem’s mantle as new PPPP chief

CEC discusses Sindh-Centre tussle on Rangers; party to resist all unconstitutional action against the province

SUKKUR:

The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) on Sunday unanimously elected former president and party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as the party’s new president.

The decision -- endorsed by senior party leaders and office bearers -- was taken during the central executive committee meeting of the PPP at Naudero House on Sunday evening. The meeting was chaired by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.



The slot had fallen vacant after the party’s previous president Makhdoom Amin Fahim had passed away after prolonged illness on November 21, 2015.

Briefing the media after the meeting, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and former interior minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that they offered prayers for Fahim before unanimously electing Zardari as his replacement.

Further, they said the party leadership discussed important developments particularly the recently concluded local government elections and the tussle between Sindh and the federal government over powers for the paramilitary Rangers.

Kaira said that during the meeting, the CEC appreciated efforts of the Rangers during the Karachi operation. He added that the PPP had been the first political party to support the Army when the operation in Swat was launched.

He clarified that they were not against the security operation; rather they were against the unnecessary intervention by the interior ministry in Sindh’s affairs. He lamented that instead of advising Sindh government on its summary to curtail special powers for Rangers, the interior ministry had chosen to override it.

Kaira warned that any unconstitutional action against the Sindh government will be met with strong resistance, adding that the PPP leadership was of the view that any such measure would weaken the federation.



The party’s performance during the recently concluded local government elections was also discussed during the CEC meeting. According to sources, Bilawal expressed his displeasure at the poor performance in the polls and means to restructure the party were discussed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2015.