KARACHI - In another move to persuade the party leadership in Punjab and avoid more defections in the province, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday met with former federal minister and PPP Punjab leader, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan at Bilawal House here.
During the meeting, the PPP Punjab leader apprised the chairman about the political situation in the province especially in her district Sialkot.
She complained that projects launched by the previous PPP government have been shelved or simply shut down without any concern to the losses emanating from such anti-people decisions by Nawaz government.
She pointed out that PPP government had started Benazir Transport Scheme for the people of rural areas of Sialkot during her tenure. Ironically, the PML-N government shut down the schemes and the buses are rusting into scrap, she informed.
She also informed the chairman about victimisation of party leaders and workers at the hands of both federal and Punjab government.
Bilawal said the party would be re-energised in Punjab and every Jiyala of the province will be taken onboard. He stressed upon the PPP leaders from Punjab to keep close contacts with the people and prepare them for the upcoming Local Bodies elections.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club along with the KPC president Fazil Jamili and secretary AH Khanzada, Firdous said the PPP was in ICU stage in Punjab and in order to get improvement, it needed surgery and not a medical treatment from homeopathic medicines. “The disease in PPP is being unearthed and if not treated on priority, it could create an issue of survival for the party in Punjab,” she said.
Firdous said she had tendered her resignation as the vice president of PPP Punjab chapter, however, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto refused to accept it. “I have conveyed my reservations to the party chairman and I am glad that he is aware of these problems before and is focusing to address them,” she said.
She said it was for the first time that the PPP had played the role of government while sitting on the opposition benches. “Due to our reconciliation policy, PPP is being considered as the affiliate organisation of the PML-N.
This policy has ruined our politics in the province because when opposition plays a supporting role for the government, it digs its grave itself. The party loyalists are not happy with this situation,” she added.
The PPP leader said the hooliganism of PML-N had continued in Punjab and she had come to Karachi in search of a Bin Qasim to address this issue. “Pakistan Peoples Party needs a complete overhaul and for this purpose and a cleanliness campaign should be launched in the party,” she said. She had also resigned from her portfolio in order to provide an opportunity to Bilawal to overhaul the party and bring new faces, she said.
She said the PPP in KP, Punjab and Balochistan had to suffer losses due to a policy to safeguard the provincial government in Sindh. “PPP leaders in Sindh are being blamed of their involvement in corrupt practices and now they had to realise if they wanted to do the politics for the province or for the entire party.”
Awan said the party had created distance from the masses due to lack of accountability and merit. She also set aside the notion that PPP Punjab president Manzoor Watto was only responsible for debacle of the party in Punjab, saying all the leaders should play their part in revival of the party in the province.
Aseefa to bear all expenses
of SOS children
Pakistan People’s Party leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari on Friday visited the SOS Children Village in Karachi’s Malir area and announced catering to the needs of all the children living in the village from her own pocket.
She intermingled with the children and shared her feelings with them besides distributing gifts among them.
She also inquired from the management of SOS Children’s Village about their requirements to make the stay and grooming of children more comfortably and blossoming of their full potential. She pledged to provide everything which children need at the village from her pocket.
It may be mentioned here that the SOS Children’s Village Karachi was opened in 1987 and comprises 16 family homes and other essential facilities. It is situated on 5 acres site in Malir which was donated by the government of Sindh.
One of the major problems facing the management has been lack of sweet water but, despite this, they have managed to maintain the gardens and provide the children an attractive environment.
The children lead busy lives and, besides many extracurricular activities, they are provided assistance with their studies. In all projects, emphasis is laid on the scholastic achievement as it is important that children realise their full potential.