ISLAMABAD:
The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party on Monday disavowed the statements of former Sindh senior minister Zulfiqar Mirza, calling them ‘unacceptable’ and ‘a violation of party discipline’, though the party leadership stopped short of announcing any punitive actions against Mirza.
President Asif Ali Zardari, in his capacity as PPP co-chairman, had called a meeting of PPP leaders from Sindh to discuss the fallout from the fiery diatribe that Mirza had launched against a member of his own party – Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik – as well as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
“The party leadership disowned the accusations made in the press conference by Zulfiqar Mirza in Karachi on Sunday,” said Farhatullah Babar, the president’s spokesperson, after the meeting.
(Read: Hurricane Mirza shakes up political landscape)
Mirza is considered one of President Zardari’s closest associates, having on several occasions referred to the president as a ‘close personal friend’. Opponents of the PPP have, in the past, assumed that statements made by Mirza were being made on behalf of the president.
But the explosive rant by Mirza on Sunday took most observers by surprise, especially since he announced his resignation from the Sindh cabinet, the provincial assembly and even his position within the PPP leadership, though he stated that he would remain a member of the party ‘for life’.
In an official handout made available to the press after the meeting, Mirza’s actions were termed “an unacceptable violation of party discipline and contrary to the well thought out policy of political reconciliation envisaged by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.”
However, the party leadership made no mention of any possible disciplinary action against Mirza, a point that is likely to raise questions and arouse criticism from the party’s political opponents. In the past, the PPP has been known to suspend the membership of several of its cadre who have stepped out of line.
(Read: Analysis - What now after Zulfiqar Mirza’s bombshell?)
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah tried to term his almost immediate acceptance of Mirza’s resignations from the Sindh Assembly and cabinet a form of disciplinary action.
While still at odds with the MQM, in its statement the PPP leadership also reiterated its resolve to continue the process of political reconciliation, though it did not name any specific party.
“There may have been pauses in the process but there shall be no break in the purpose,” President Zardari was quoted as having said by his spokesperson. Interestingly enough, Rehman Malik and Senator Babar Awan – the two men who have been actively involved in trying to manage the negotiations with the MQM – were not present at the meeting, in an apparent endorsement of the demands made by Mirza and several other PPP politicians from Sindh that these two men not be allowed to intervene in the affairs of the province again.
The two men were replaced at the meeting by Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah (an MNA from Sukkur) and Qamar Zaman Kaira, an MNA from Gujrat.
The Sindh chief minister, meanwhile, briefed the meeting about the ongoing drive against those responsible for the recent wave of violence in Karachi that has thus far claimed the lives of nearly 1,000 people since the beginning of the calendar year.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (14)
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After reading Altaf Hussain's letter to Tony Blair on the web , I suppose he is faking his illness. After all , he is a stooge of the goras . No wonder the Scotland Yard did not take action on Imran Khan's complaint. The MQM did not permit the Chief Justice of Pakistan to leave the Karachi airport . But now the wheel of fortune has completed its circle .
It is time that the true face of the MQM is exposed to all. Hundreds of Pushtuns have been killed and are being forced to go back to K-P, if this is not ethnic cleansing than I do not know what is.
Is Altaf Hussain's sickness genuine or fake ? How did dangerous armaments like grenades or rocket launchers enter Karachi ? Is there no Government ?
Sham democracy . Sham reconciliation . Look at the timing of this Shakespearean comedy when the Supreme Court is hearing the case of Karachi killings.
All politicians are sick, they don't know what they are doing!!!!, This all reflect with innocent people in Karachi and Pakistan, Be Pakistani nor politician
well put Siraj sb!
one more bearded messiah..
Branding a political party and disregarding mandate is common in Pakistan. Same was done with Awami League and we know the result. Same is done in Baluchistan and same is being done in Karachi.
Middle class representation has always been a thorn for feudals. If Karachi also plundered likevthe rest they will be part of their system but it is not. Whatever has been said one thing is clear MQM didn't ask for personal favors and fought for it's cadre and implementation of their election promise. No one else has done this.. They were too busy in plunder and hence acceptance of mandate by these thugs will never come.
I think MQM should advertise this rejection as this means they still remain committed to their election promise unlike others
Truth is out, PPP and MQM can't hide.
yes.....disown anyone who speaks the truth.
This is all topi drama. A clever move by Zulfiqar Mirza by holding a unknown book over his head as if it is a Quran. All this to give a bad name to MQM . He is a low life who must be ridiculed.