Blame game: PPP suspends Zulfiqar Mirza’s CEC membership

He had launched a diatribe against party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari


Our Correspondent February 19, 2015
Former Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza. PHOTO: INP

KARACHI: The barrage of allegations fired by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), at the party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has resulted in suspension of his membership from the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Wednesday.

The decision of removing Mirza, who is also a former home minister Sindh, from the CEC – an apex forum of the party to make high-level decisions – was taken at a meeting held at Bilawal House.

Asif Zardari convened the meeting which was attended by senior party leaders including Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Murad Ali Shah, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and others.

“Initially, a show-cause notice will be served to Mirza by suspending his membership and later he would be removed as a member,” a senior leader in the party said.



A few days ago Mirza, PPP senior leader Makhdhoom Amin Fahim and PPP Karachi division president Qadir Patel, had left for London to meet PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Mirza had announced that he would brief the chairman about those PPP leaders who have defamed the party. Speaking to the media he had disclosed that there were serious differences between Bilawal and his father Asif Zardari over how the party as well as the Sindh government should be run.

“Zardari is running the Sindh government as a business enterprise. No one else but Bilawal is our leader. I am going to convince him to return to the country and lead the party,” he had said before leaving for London

Subsequently, in reaction to his statement the PPP announced to disown Mirza. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said, “The allegations levelled by Mirza reflect his personal disagreement with the party. He is no more a leader of the party.”

Meanwhile, the meeting also discussed the Senate elections, due on March 5, and an alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

During the meeting, PPP co-chairman also directed PPP leaders to accelerate dialogue with the MQM on local government system.

“There are reports of deadlock between PPP and MQM over power sharing formula,” PPP sources said. “MQM leadership has expressed concern with Zardari over local government issue,” they noted, adding that Zardari has asked his party to resolve MQM grievances even on local government matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2015.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ