ISLAMABAD: Serious internal divisions widened in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Monday as the party leadership suspended the basic membership of Naheed Khan – political secretary and a close confidante of slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto – for accusing the party leadership of “nepotism and cronyism”.
In an emergency meeting held under the chairmanship of PPP Rawalpindi District President Amir Fida Paracha, the PPP leaders suspended Naheed’s basic party membership for violating party discipline despite warnings.
Later, Amir told journalists that Naheed had also been issued a show cause notice in this regard.
PPP Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab also confirmed the disciplinary action against Naheed, saying that Naheed had violated party discipline and her basic membership had been terminated accordingly. With suspension of Naheed’s membership, the number of suspended PPP leaders has reached five. Four of the party’s central executive committee members were suspended on “disciplinary grounds” while many got snubbed by the leadership on different counts in party meetings.
Other PPP leaders whose memberships had been suspended on various counts include Naheed’s husband Dr Safdar Abbasi, Minister of State for Railways Mohammad Afzal Sindhu and lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan. However, the membership of Aitzaz Ahsan was restored four months ago. Naheed’s loyalists, including Sajida Mir and Amna Zaidi, have also been shown the door under same allegations.
Naheed told Pakistan Today that the party’s decision had stamped the fact that the PPP had deviated from its ideological foundations as Benazir had signed her (Naheed’s) party membership. “If they are kicking me out from the party, first they would have to disown my leader Benazir Bhutto. The crime I have committed is that I have raised voice for proper investigation into her murder.
If my party government cannot properly investigate her assassination, then who will do that?” she questioned. Dr Safdar Abbasi, meanwhile, told Pakistan Today that the PPP was suffering from a serious identity and ideological crisis coupled with institutional bickering.
