KARACHI: PPP Sindh Media Cell In-charge Sharjeel Inam Memon’s prompt move to back Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza following the MQM’s 10-day notice to the PPP over the home minister’s tirade against the party clearly suggests a shift in the PPP’s political strategy in the province.
People closely watching the PPP’s politics are of the view that due to the changing political situation in the country, the PPP would quickly distance itself from the MQM in the coming days in an attempt to secure Sindh – its political base and stronghold – and regain its popularity in the province.
They are of the opinion that by distancing itself from the MQM or straining ties with its coalition partner, the PPP would benefit in two ways: It would gain popularity among the people of Sindh and at the same time, it would allow itself to get away with what a growing number of Sindhi-speaking voters believe has been a poor performance by the government in its three years so far.
The general impression in the Sindh is that the PPP government’s overall performance has been pathetic, especially when it came to dealing with the recent devastating floods.
The majority of the flood-affected people have still not been rehabilitated and many areas are submerged even after considerable time has passed since the floods.
The Sindhi masses are also annoyed due to the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, unemployment and other problems.
There has been no improvement in the conditions of the public sector services in the province such as health and education during the three years of the PPP government. In fact, the people believe that these services have worsened during this period.
Dr Zulfiqar Mirza is a close friend and confidante of President Asif Ali Zardari. Therefore, many people wonder whether Dr Mirza can actually act without the consent of the party’s top leadership or not.
Dr Mirza’s recent tirade was not the first time that he gave a “provocative” statement against the MQM and the latter has formally complained about the home minister’s attitude to the president on previous occasions.
Dr Mirza is not only a powerful minister in the Sindh, but has also been given an important slot in the PPP as well – the senior vice president of the party’s provincial chapter.
For this reason, many people in the PPP consider him as a possible replacement for Qaim Ali Shah, who is the provincial president of the party, in the near future.
His “provocative” statements against the MQM in the last few months might have made him a controversial figure for the PPP’s collation partner, but have also helped him emerge as a popular figure among the people of Sindh.
The province’s nationalist groups, who were recently involved in province-wide joint campaign against the PPP government, welcomed Dr Mirza’s statement.
The PPP leadership is aware that the majority of its Sindhi-speaking voters, including the party’s own second-line leadership and activists, have never supported the PPP’s coalition with the MQM. The PPP has also openly faced criticism in Sindh for this reason.
With the changing political situation in the country, it appears that the PPP is changing its strategy in the Sindh and a leadership like Dr Mirza’s would play a main role in the changed scenario.
