KARACHI - pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has suspended its leader Qadir Patel from the president slot of Karachi division on the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah for uttering words that defied the party’s reconciliation policy in the province.
PPP Sindh information secretary Waqar Mehdi said in a statement on Friday that Patel was suspended from his post of president Karachi division on the directives of the CM and the decision would be implemented with immediate effect.
He said Qaim, who also holds the office of PPP’s Sindh President, had issued the directions to the party’s provincial secretary general Taj Haider to ensure implementation in this regard. Although Mehdi did not give any reason for suspending Patel, however, sources privy to the development said Patel was issued show-cause notice from the party on March 9.  Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon also confirmed the show-cause notice, saying the PPP leader was asked to clarify his position over his criticism regarding Rehman Malik and Muttahida Qaumi Movement at a PPP public gathering. Speaking during the PPP gathering, Patel also criticised the PPP leadership for not awarding Senate tickets to the party loyalists from Karachi including him, Najmi Alam, Manzoor Abbas and others. The sources further said Patel had also reservations with the party over coalition with MQM. It was also informed that Patel who also participated in the Sindh Council meeting of the party on Wednesday at the Chief Minister House was asked by the PPP leadership to submit an answer regarding his show-cause notice but he refused. He said he did not say any word against the party policy therefore he would not give a clarification in this regard.
Meanwhile, after the suspension of Patel, the party affairs in Karachi will run by PPP Karachi general secretary Najmi Alam.
MQM REQUISITION FOR SA SESSION TURNED DOWN: Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani on Friday turned down a requisition from MQM to summon Sindh Assembly session in order to protest over the raid of Rangers at its headquarters Nine-Zero. According to Sindh Assembly secretary Umar Farooq, MQM submitted the requisition - comprising signatures of 43 lawmakers - for calling the session of the provincial assembly, however, their request was rejected over non-recognition of signatures of eight lawmakers. According to the rules and procedures of the assembly, at least 42 signatures of lawmakers were required for summoning the provincial assembly session. Meanwhile, the sources had given another account of rejection of requisition, saying the decision was taken by the high ups in the PPP during a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister House on Thursday.  They said the PPP leadership was aware that MQM would protest over the raid carried out at its headquarters and therefore, in order to avoid any criticism on the law enforcement authorities and the incumbent government, it was decided to reject the requisition. Talking to The Nation, MQM parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed said that they were conveyed regarding the speaker’s decision and a strategy to take up this issue would be devised in the party meeting on Saturday.