For greater power: After weeks of wooing, PPP manages to win over influential Shirazis

Sources say that PPP has agreed to give the Shirazi brothers two provincial and one national assembly seat.

KARACHI:

The Shirazi brothers, who constitute a formidable force in the political landscape of Thatta, announced on Friday that they will join Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). 

The negotiations between both parties had been in full swing for a couple of months. Though in the last elections PPP bagged sympathy votes following the assassination of its chairperson, it faced a tough time in Thatta where the Shirazi group secured one national and two provincial assembly seats.

The Shirazi brothers had contested the elections on a Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) ticket. After PML-Q formed a coalition with PPP, the government appointed Aijaz Shah Shirazi as an adviser to the chief minister.

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, federal minister for religious affairs Khursheed Shah met the Shirazi brothers on Friday, after which the announcement was made. “They have joined the PPP, but will make the announcement at a public gathering to be held on November 7 in Thatta,” said a spokesperson for the chief minister.

Among others who attended the meeting on behalf of Shirazi group included Syed Aijaz Shah Shirazi and Syed Shafqat Shah Shirazi.

As negotiation between PPP and Shirazi brothers neared completion, the party’s workers and local leaders protested. They felt that the Shirazi group, which had a partnership with former army chief General Pervez Musharraf and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, were not reliable.  MPAs Saddique Memon, Sassui Palijo and PPP Thatta president Wazir Memon were among those who opposed the decision.

Sources privy to the development said that PPP has agreed to give the Shirazi brothers two provincial and one national assembly seat.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2012.