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PPP in trouble as opposition refuses to withdraw candidates

By Razzak Abro
Friday, February 24, 2012
Source

KARACHI: It appears that the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is still in trouble in getting the Senate elections uncontested in Sindh as the four-member opposition group, led by former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, has refused to withdraw its candidates.

After settlement of the seats between PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), some of the candidates from both parties filed their withdrawals on Thursday. But they could not got their two candidates, Dr Hafeez Shaikh of the PPP and Dr Farogh Nasim of MQM, elected uncontested. Both had filed their nomination papers for seats reserved for technocrats. However, no seats of other categories have been vacated, including general, reserve seats for women and minorities.

The PPP leaders had succeeded in resolving their matters with the MQM by surrendering a Senate seat to accommodate another candidate of the party. However, Dr Arbab Rahim-led group in the Sindh Assembly (SA) is still a main hindrance in the way of uncontested elections.

PPP leadership, especially Federal Minister Syed Khurshed Ahmed Shah has remained in contact with Dr Rahim, who is living in self-exile in Dubai. But Dr Rahim group is still of the view that they will not withdraw their candidates till the PPP gives them a Senate seat.

It appears that Federal Interior Minster Rehman Malik’s recent statement about investigating Arbab Rahim’s alleged involvement in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case has annoyed the group. During his briefing to SA members, Malik had said that Dr Rahim will be investigated on his return for his controversial statement. He had reportedly said that before October 18 welcome rally little did dancing PPP men know that they would have to weep after sunset.

“We stand by our decision”, said Abdul Razaque Rahimoon, who is deputy parliamentary leader of the group in the SA. According to him, the PPP should have given a seat to the group’s candidate, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi. “When the PPP can surrender two more seats for the MQM why can’t they give a seat to us for fulfilling their promise. According to him they had withdrawn their candidates during previous Senate election on assurance that the PPP will accommodate them in next elections. The sources in PPP, however, say that Dr Rahim group members were trying to blackmail the PPP on occasion of the Senate elections. They said that Dr Rahim group’s members actually wanted a slot of opposition leader in the provincial assembly for Dr Rahim.

But Dr Rahim group denies of it. “Opposition leader’s notification has no relevance with the Senate elections”, said former Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi who is again a candidate for a Senate seat. According to him, they will go to the court if government did not notify Dr Rahim as opposition leader.

Ruling PPP has not only made contacts with the Dr Arbab group for convincing them to withdraw their candidates but also had adopted pressure tactics. On February 15, the SA deferred grating leave application of Dr Rahim for the first time during latter’s absence. Earlier, his group had formally filed an application to the SA speaker requesting to appoint Dr Rahim as the opposition leader. His three supporters were left in opposition in the SA after the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) members had formally joined the government, a few months back.

Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro had however refused to entertain the application as officially Dr Rahim was elected at ticket of PML-Q, which is part of the government now. PPP sources say that they can talk with Rahim group on appointment of Dr Rahim as opposition leader but how can they surrender a Senate seat to those who only have three to four votes in hand.

According to the party position in the Sindh Assembly the ruling PPP is largest parliamentary group in the provincial legislative house with strength of 98 members out of total 168. The MQM stands second with its 51 members, and the PML-F at third position with its eight members.

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