Switching sides: Rana Abdul Sattar of the PML-F joins PPP

KARACHI:

Pakistan Muslim League - Functional (PML-F) senior leader and former MPA Rana Abdul Sattar joined Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday after reportedly developing differences with prominent leaders of the party.

Sattar formally announced this during a press conference along with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon at CM House.

Sattar, whose parents and entire family had been affiliated with Pir Pagara’s party for the last four decades, said he had no other option but to join PPP because of the “unruly” attitude of PML-F’s local leadership. “Party leaders in the district harassed me and filed fake cases against me with the National Accountability Bureau.”

Sattar insisted that he did not leave PML-F due to differences with Pir Pagara and had in fact asked him to solve the issue. “I complained to Pir Sain [Pir Pagara] about the attitude of party leaders,” he stated. “A committee was also formed to probe into the matter, but no action was taken.”

Sattar stated that while he was not offered any post by the PPP, he will be looking to actively participate in party activities. However, according to sources, Sattar has been offered an important post in the upcoming local government elections. “PPP can nominate him as a candidate for district council Sanghar chairmanship,” a PPP leader, who wished to remain anonymous, informed The Express Tribune.

Sattar hails from a prominent family that migrated from India. His father, Rana Abdul Salam, owned a cotton business and was one of the prominent traders in the area. Sattar joined PML-F and contested local bodies elections in 2001 and was taluka nazim till 2005. He became an elected MPA in 2008.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2013.