PPP co-chairman comes home today
PPP leader had left the country in June last year following a hard-hitting speech that criticised the establishment
PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari ahead of leaving for Karachi. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Former president Asif Ali Zardari returns from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan at the end of his self-imposed exile on Friday after a year and a half.
The PPP leader had left the country in June last year following a hard-hitting speech that criticised the establishment for over-stepping its domain, thereby offending it. Since then, he divided his time between Dubai and London.
Nawaz ‘happy’ on Zardari’s return to Pakistan
“His phone call to the new army chief paved the way for his homecoming,” a party leader said.
PPP, heading the provincial government in Sindh, is learnt to have made arrangements to hold a public meeting at the Old Terminal where Zardari is scheduled to land at around 3pm.
“He (Zardari) will address thousands of party workers before heading towards the Bilawal House,” PPP’s secretary-general for Sindh Waqar Mehdi said.
According to party office-bearers, Zardari is likely to address the public meeting where Benazir Bhutto came under attack at Karsaz in 2007. Extraordinary security measures have been taken: army and Rangers personnel will be placed in and around the Old Terminal and Sharea Faisal.
The PPP, however, cancelled the rally and Zardari will now use helicopter to reach Bilawal House. PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is already in Dubai and it is likely that he will return with his father (Asif Ali Zardari). The welcoming event has been arranged by the party’s Karachi chapter.
“This will be a historic event, marking the start of a movement against the PML-N government,” president of PPP’s Sindh chapter Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said. Khuhro said that other opposition parties would also be taken into confidence for getting rid of Nawaz Sharif.
“The government did not pay heed to our demands. All those parties who are up in arms over Panama Papers will join us in this movement,” Khuhro said.
Festive mood prevails over most parts of Karachi and Zardari’s portraits and flag of the PPP dot various roads across the Sindh metropolis. Although there is no fixed schedule, but sources privy to the development said that PPP’s co-chairperson will leave for Larkana after a two-day-long stay in Karachi.
Later, he will visit his hometown in Benazirabad before attending the death anniversary of his spouse, Benazir Bhutto, on December 27.
This time around, it is not known how long the PPP co-chairperson intended to stay in the country.
Sharae Faisal swept clean as govt gears up for Zardari’s homecoming
“He may leave (the country) a few days after the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto,” a PPP leader said.
Meanwhile, the Sindh chief minister held a meeting with the provincial inspector-general and other officials concerned for outlining effective security and traffic plans. The anti-government campaign is meant to offset the pressure on PPP, but such moves would not succeed,” sources said.
Although the PPP announced to launch an anti-government campaign, it remained to be seen what the party would actually do after December 27.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2016.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari returns from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan at the end of his self-imposed exile on Friday after a year and a half.
The PPP leader had left the country in June last year following a hard-hitting speech that criticised the establishment for over-stepping its domain, thereby offending it. Since then, he divided his time between Dubai and London.
Nawaz ‘happy’ on Zardari’s return to Pakistan
“His phone call to the new army chief paved the way for his homecoming,” a party leader said.
PPP, heading the provincial government in Sindh, is learnt to have made arrangements to hold a public meeting at the Old Terminal where Zardari is scheduled to land at around 3pm.
“He (Zardari) will address thousands of party workers before heading towards the Bilawal House,” PPP’s secretary-general for Sindh Waqar Mehdi said.
According to party office-bearers, Zardari is likely to address the public meeting where Benazir Bhutto came under attack at Karsaz in 2007. Extraordinary security measures have been taken: army and Rangers personnel will be placed in and around the Old Terminal and Sharea Faisal.
The PPP, however, cancelled the rally and Zardari will now use helicopter to reach Bilawal House. PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is already in Dubai and it is likely that he will return with his father (Asif Ali Zardari). The welcoming event has been arranged by the party’s Karachi chapter.
“This will be a historic event, marking the start of a movement against the PML-N government,” president of PPP’s Sindh chapter Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said. Khuhro said that other opposition parties would also be taken into confidence for getting rid of Nawaz Sharif.
“The government did not pay heed to our demands. All those parties who are up in arms over Panama Papers will join us in this movement,” Khuhro said.
Festive mood prevails over most parts of Karachi and Zardari’s portraits and flag of the PPP dot various roads across the Sindh metropolis. Although there is no fixed schedule, but sources privy to the development said that PPP’s co-chairperson will leave for Larkana after a two-day-long stay in Karachi.
Later, he will visit his hometown in Benazirabad before attending the death anniversary of his spouse, Benazir Bhutto, on December 27.
This time around, it is not known how long the PPP co-chairperson intended to stay in the country.
Sharae Faisal swept clean as govt gears up for Zardari’s homecoming
“He may leave (the country) a few days after the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto,” a PPP leader said.
Meanwhile, the Sindh chief minister held a meeting with the provincial inspector-general and other officials concerned for outlining effective security and traffic plans. The anti-government campaign is meant to offset the pressure on PPP, but such moves would not succeed,” sources said.
Although the PPP announced to launch an anti-government campaign, it remained to be seen what the party would actually do after December 27.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2016.