Dr Firdous quits party post

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) faced a barrage of criticism on Friday when its deputy chief in Punjab Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan relinquished her post, citing reorganisation challenges in the party and penalisation of party leaders over the Sindh government’s ‘mistakes’.

Addressing a news conference at Karachi Press Club after meeting with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, she clarified that she would remain a “party worker” after resigning from her party’s post.

Awan complained that the PPP has been abandoned in the province. “No one cares to look after it. It needs a team leader, one who can revamp the party,” she said adding that despite her request the PPP chairman did not accept her resignation.

Criticising the party’s policies, she said that after the government’s failure people usually pin their hopes on the opposition but unfortunately the PPP has played the role of a ‘friendly opposition’.

Awan claimed that Bilawal was aware of the situation and had assured her that he would bring drastic reforms in the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2015.