PPP in a fix on Marwat’s joining

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) is in a tight spot after Bakhtawar Bhutto and Aseefa Bhutto expressed extreme displeasure over Irfanullah Marwat’s joining the party.

Marwat's affiliation with the PPP didn't go down well with many PPP supporters and now it has clearly irked Bakhtawar and Aseefa as well. Both of them took the issue to the Twitter to show their resentment against the move.

Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Maula Bux Chandio, was speaking at event on Sunday where he was asked to comment on Bhuttos’ reaction. He was perplexed on the question and couldn’t give a clear reply.

I am unaware of the development, but the doors for apology are never closed, he said. I cannot deny what Bakhatawar and Aseefa have said, they are granddaughters of my political mentor, Chandio added.

Without explicitly mentioning Marwat’s name, Bakhtawar in her tweet wrote, “Sick man should be rotting in a jail cell somewhere not coming anywhere near #PPP. Party that was led by a woman will not tolerate such ppl.”

Bakhtawar also retweeted a post on twitter by Salma Jaffar, who is a development consultant, which mentioned a news story in the international media dated December 20, 1991, regarding a strong protest, led by the then Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at the Parliament House, which was crushed by police against the alleged gang rape of her friend Veena Hayat.

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in her tweet wrote, “Mr Irfanullah Marwat should not be in #PPP 1 of the core PPP values is respect for women! His repulsive & illegal actions are reprehensible.”

The opposition against Marwat came directly from two young females whose opinion should always be given foremost consideration by decision-making circles of the PPP. They are the daughters of assassinated former prime minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.

PPP women leaders including Sherry Rehman and Sharmila farooqui too were unhappy on this.

Even though the PPP had not issued any formal statement confirming any affiliation with Marwat, but it was his meeting with former president Asif Ali Zardari at the Bilawal House on Friday, and later his conversation with the media that gave credence to the notion that Marwat had joined the PPP.