Ex-PTI youth and women leader Malaika joins PPP

LONDON: Political worker and human rights activist Malaika Raza has joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

This announcement comes after Malaika’s meeting with the party’s leadership including Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, Secretary Senator General Farhatullah Babar, Nayyar Bukhari and Faisal Kundi in Islamabad.

The PPP’s steadfast support for women, minority rights and the youth has enabled these marginalized demographics to carve a space for themselves.

This is necessary for a progressive Pakistan. Moreover, the PPP’s policies to tackle extremism have demonstrated not only a nuanced understanding of the issue at hand, but also provides the only alternative narrative for a forward-thinking nation predicated on tolerance and religious harmony.

Malaika says, “Extremism, in its various forms and manifestations, is the biggest threat faced by Pakistan today and the PPP is the only political party fighting against bigotry and extremists.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is saying and doing all the right things and it’s time to support him to reclaim Pakistan from the extremists. A progressive Pakistan is the best and only way forward, and I am very excited to work with the only political party that prioritizes this.”

She added that women and youth were being exploited in all other parties and the PPP had the proven record to put women in the main leadership positions unlike any other political party.

She had left the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf last year over the party’s far-right policies and lack of opportunities for women and youth within its decision-making forums.