Karachi -  Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Wednesday appointed Member Sindh Assembly Saeed Ghani as its president of the Karachi division

Although Dr Asim, a close of aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, who remained in jail for over a year in a money laundering case, has refuted that he has submitted his resignation, PPP, on the other hand, is of the opinion that the former petroleum minister has resigned from the party, citing medical treatment abroad.

The PPP statement further said that Dr Asim would be given some other important responsibilities once he returned from abroad.

In a statement issued from PPP Media Cell, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held a meeting with the party office-bearers from Karachi division at Bilawal House.

The meeting briefed the chairman about the political situation and party’s organisational structure in Karachi division and the pace of development projects being executed in the city by the Sindh government.

Besides nominating Ghani as PPP president in Karachi division, PPP chairman also announced the nomination of MPA Javed Nagori as General Secretary of PPP Karachi division.

Speaking on the development, a PPP leader, who did not want his name to be disclosed, said that Dr Asim had been appointed Karachi division president earlier in order to give him a political name, as he had no share in party’s organisational structure and political activities. “Otherwise major political activities in the division were managed and run by Saeed Ghani,” he said, and added, “Ghani is an old political activist, who hails from Karachi and has a better understanding of political dynamics in the city.”

He said that hundreds of political activists, hailing from other parties, had joined PPP in the last five months, and all these inductions were the fruits of efforts, led by Ghani. “He has been able to garner support from all quarters of the party and it was due to his efforts that the party was able to win provincial assembly seat from PS-114,” the PPP leader said.

It is pertinent to mention here that after rifts and divisions within Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan People’s Party has been able to gain foothold in the city and has won two major elections in PS-127 Malir and PS-114. The party won PS-127 seat after almost 10 years while it secured PS-114 seat, which it had never won before.

The PPP leader said that Ghani was able to prove himself as the best contender for the party leadership as in current scenario, he was the most deserving and able candidate with his origins in the city.

“His appointment as Karachi division president will further strengthen the PPP and he could prove himself a strong contender against the MQM-P that has remained a major stakeholder in the city, but is now struggling with divisions and detachment from its leadership based in London,” he said.

Meanwhile, after his nomination as the president of Karachi division, Ghani has thanked Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Women Wing President Faryal Talpur and PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro for giving him the opportunity to serve the party.

Nagori is also a member of the Sindh Assembly and is a loyalist of the party from Lyari; a stronghold of PPP.

He also remained Minister for Katchi Abadis in the provincial government in the past.