The final call

Rather unexpectedly, the senior vice chairperson of the PPP, Amin Makhdoom Fahim, has spoken of 'two groups' in the party and of a possible split within it. At a book launch in Hyderabad, he said the 'old' PPP was not in harmony with the 'new' party and appeared to make an effort to distance himself from the government in Islamabad. Talk of friction and disharmony within the PPP has of course been heard since the death of Benazir Bhutto. It seems now to be surfacing in earnest. The reasons for this are in many ways rooted in the leadership style of Asif Ali Zardari. While initially Zardari seemed to be the one figure who could keep the traumatized party intact, since then he seems to have associated himself primarily with a small coterie of people who are said to be the key decision-makers in Islamabad. Indeed, some say they have a bigger role in deciding matters than the federal cabinet. The fact that senior PPP figures, including Fahim, have been kept out of this loop aggravates the difficulties.

The future of the PPP today remains uncertain. Fahim has made it clear he is simply not interested in being kicked upstairs, into the presidential slot. The fact he has chosen to speak also indicates there is considerable discord simmering within the party. The continuing crisis over judicial restoration and the possible impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf adds to the persisting angst. Doubts about Zardari's integrity (particularly with regard to the issue of restoration) and ability seem to have grown over the past two months. It has also become apparent that he is the man in charge, rather than the prime minister.

A split within the PPP would of course be unfortunate, to say the least but it should be taken by the party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as the final wake-up call to stop the rule by a coterie of his favourites and start an all-inclusive process of governance as he would, in the final analysis, be the biggest loser if the party breaks up. To argue that all previous defections from the party failed may not be valid now as there is no dominating 'Bhutto' to keep it together. For all the ups and downs it has undergone since it was founded over three decades ago, the party still retains a specific identity and character. A break-up would as such weaken Pakistan's political system and a party that plays an important role and is desperately needed to consolidate the restored political system.

Posted on: 1-July-2008

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Source: The News (http://www.thenews.com.pk)

Comments on this article

On Friday, 4-July-2008 at 5:07:08 AM, Khan said:
I don’t think that zardari will wake up. Looks like he thinks now he is the only one having the control of the country.