Veteran Jiyala wants to become caretaker PM

LONDON: A veteran Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) jiyala Amanullah Khan has put himself up as the caretaker prime minister of Pakistan and has appealed to his party to support him in his bid.
Not many people in the new version of the PPP know him, but Amanullah Khan, who claims to be the co-founder of the party and has worked with its founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, has spent time in jails on account of his struggle for democracy in Pakistan and claims that he will provide new and neutral face to Pakistan.
The eccentric socialist campaigner fled Pakistan after Ziaul Haq imposed martial law in the country and hanged Z A Bhutto. Old but young-spirited and still committed to the party’s hard-left ideology, Amanullah Khan has dedicated his life to the cause of the party’s philosophy, but his views are not considered mainstream anymore, and he holds no position in the party. In fact, the maverick campaigner is barred from reaching anywhere high profile PPP leaders.
“I am co-founder of the party and was the first one who promoted the idea of roti, kapra aur makan. I have spent time in jail with stalwarts of democracy and have spent every day of my life dedicated to the ideology that was so warmly received by the people of Pakistan. Many of the people in the PPP ranks today are turncoats and have no idea about the original ideology of the party. These people are businessmen and don’t deserve to be in the party and it’s due to their tunnel pro-business vision that the party has lost its appeal amongst the masses,” Khan told The News, adding that the PPP will get the most acceptable, common face in his shape if he could make it to the prime minister house.
Khan, who has never tired of proclaiming his credential in every meeting and has routinely hassled visiting Pakistani dignitaries, including former PM Yusuf Raza Gilani during an interaction at Pakistan High Commission, boasts that he shared jail with Khan Abdul Wali Khan, the Awami National Party leader and his colleague Ajmal Khattack, in 1968 for a democratic system. “I was present when the PPP was launched. I am a visionary and can reconnect with the marginalised and downtrodden masses, even media will support my candidature as it will show that the PPP values its founders,” said Amanullah Khan, who hopes that the PPP leadership pay heed to his demand.