Fissure widens: Sharjeel Memon resigns over decision to accompany Mirza

Ruling party appoints Babar Awan to defend NRO cases.

ISLAMABAD: In another blow to an already-beleaguered government, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s information minister in Sindh, Sharjeel Memon, tendered his resignation to party co-chairman and President, Asif Ali Zardari.

Memon, who was summoned by the president late Friday night, said he regretted the embarrassment caused to the party by accompanying Dr Zulfikar Mirza to London. Sources quoted the president as saying Memon’s resignation would be accepted by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.

Earlier on Friday, during a core committee meeting of the party, the president asked the Sindh chief minister to sternly deal with “conspirators” who, according to him, were trying to damage the party and the government.

The president, at the meeting, reiterated the party’s reconciliation policy with allied parties, particularly the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The MQM had been irked by Memon’s move to accompany Mirza to London and had demanded an explanation from PPP’s central leadership.

The meeting also deliberated on suspending Dr Mirza’s basic membership from the party.

Defending NRO cases

Perturbed by the timing of the Supreme Court’s decision to take up the review petition, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to vigorously defend National Reconciliation Order (NRO) cases.

The party’s firebrand lawyer, Babar Awan, will represent the government when the Supreme Court takes up the cases, involving the party’s leadership, on Monday.

“We cannot tolerate character assassination of our late leaders,” said a PPP leader who attended the core committee meeting of the party.

“When someone files a petition against Nawaz Sharif, two judges are sent to Lahore registry who dismiss the plea outright. Is it not selective justice,” the leader said.

“Benazir Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Bhutto were the prime accused in the so-called cases now being heard under the NRO,” said another PPP leader.

“President Zardari was at number three. It is the accountability of the graves of our deceased leaders,” the party leader added.

The government would move an application in the Supreme Court today (Saturday), seeking permission to allow Babar to argue government’s review appeal.

The NRO review petition was last heard on April 19, and the Supreme Court had allowed the government to change its counsel.

The timing of the taking up of the review petition, at a time when the government is facing multifaceted challenges, is a matter of concern for the party, another participant of the meeting said.

“There are many other cases pending, many judgments are reserved. Why are these issues are not taken up,” the participant added.

At the meeting, PPP leader Khurshid Shah proposed that at least two state ministers, for the foreign and the finance ministry, should be appointed. The president said he would consider the proposal later.

Zardari was also quoted as exhorting his party’s ministers to “actively defend the government.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2011.