Rasool Bux Palijo parts ways with son-led party

Nationalist leader revives Awami Tehreek, breaking away from QAT

HYDERABAD: Veteran leftist and nationalist politician, 86-year-old Rasool Bux Palijo, has split up from his son Ayaz Palijo's Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT), reviving QAT's parent party, Awami Tehreek (AT).

The announcement has coincided with the beginning of a movement against alleged corruption by the Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP)-led Sindh government and the controversial Zulfiqarabad project, which Ayaz launched with a protest sit-in on Sunday.

After developing differences, which began to become public since the last few months, over his son's style of leading the party, Rasool Bux called it a day on Sunday. Ayaz is the elected president of the QAT. "The QAT emerged [in 2013] from the Awami Tehreek [which was formed in 1970] ... in view of the given situation we reject the QAT and restore the real Awami Tehreek," the elderly leader declared at a press conference at his residence. Earlier, he also convened a meeting with QAT leaders and workers who agreed to join the restored party. "Ayaz may continue to lead the QAT or may take any other decision," he replied to a query. On September 6, Rasool Bux wrote a letter addressed to his son in which he went on length to expatiate what he considered to be a deviation from the party's ideology.



He lamented that Ayaz did not follow his criticism and advice conveyed through the letter which was also published in the form of a 65-page booklet, thousands of copies of which have been distributed across Sindh.

"From early age he used to say that he was not opposed to capitalism [which Rasool Bux considers an anti-human system]," he said. He also accused the 'agencies' of surrounding his son since he was very young.

"The enemies have kept attacking the party's ideology, discipline, direction and struggles from both inside and outside," he alleged, reading from a written press release. "I kept noticing these things and the party's leaders and workers also used to point out the conspiracies, attitudes and policies."

Rasool Bux's critics allege that the PPP's influence was pivotal in the parting of ways between the father and son as his brother, Ghulam Qadir Palijo, is chairman of the Thatta District Council. His daughter, Sassui Palijo is also a senator of the PPP. The elderly leader was also questioned about his physical strength to lead a party which he reiterated will demonstrate the features of a revolutionary party. He responded by saying that after restoring the old party he has become 'rejuvenated'.  He informed that an organising committee, led by him and comprising around 50 members, will form the provincial, regional and district chapters of the AT. A workers' convention has been called for October 23 while a peasant conference will be held on November 5, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2016.