PPP cornering own MNA from Jamshoro

KARACHI: In an apparent move to isolate its own party leader of district Jamshoro, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) central leadership included the close friends and foes of said leader in the party without consulting him. The sources confided to ‘The News’ that district Jamshoro’s powerful political figure Malik Asad Sikandar parted ways with the party as he had certain reservations about his role in the party and alleged illegal occupation of the land of his tribe by a private housing scheme in the area and adjacent district Malir.
On Monday, Malik Asad’s close aides and notables of the area Haji Ramzan Palari and Wadero Salih Muhammad Birhmani and his rivals Niaz Chachar, a leader of nationalist party, Sindh United Party, Kaka Kishanchand, leader of Muslim League-N met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. They were welcomed in the party, however, consent of MNA Malik Asad was not taken by the party leadership or his aides.
Earlier, Sindh PML-N Vice-President Malak Changaiz Khan, who is a cousin and traditional rival of MNA Asad also, has joined the PPP on the will and wishes of party’s central leadership to keep a check on MNA Malik Asad.
The sources added that it was principally decided to keep MNA Malik Asad isolated and to award party ticket of provincial assembly seat of PS072 to Salih Muhammad Birahmani and National Assembly to Malak Changaiz.
Looking at the political history of the area, the Malik family remained always undefeated as incumbent MNA Malik Asad’s father Malak Sikandar had defeated G M Syed, the icon of Sindhi nationalism, in general elections of 1977.
MNA Malik Asad now has only the support of former nationalist leader and now his close aide PPP MPA Faqeerdad Khoso and minority MPA of PPP Gianchand Esrani while he is facing rivalry of three MPAs of the area, one minister of adjacent district Hyderabad and the whole party leadership.
Malik Changaiz Khan told The News that he had left the PML-N and joined the PPP as according to him PPP is the only hope for the people of Sindh and his area. Mr Changaiz added that the people of the area terming the strategy of the PPP to corner MNA Malak Asad blessing as according to him MNA Asad had done nothing despite of remaining in power from last 30 plus years.
MPA Faqeerdad Khoso said that his group hoped PPP leadership would act and decide wisely and would not prefer the people rejected by people of the area. “In the given situation, Malak Asad group has many open options,” concluded MPA Khoso. Surrender Walasi, spokesman for Bilawal House confirmed the meeting of the said four political personalities of PPP and PML-N with Asif Ali Zardari, however he refuted the move as to corner party’s own MNA Malak Asad.
Mr Walasi concluded that the meeting with Asif Zardari was routine and every day many political workers of different parties meet him but there was no question of promoting or demoting of any party leader.