Nadeem Afzal Gondal, a young legislator from PPP, has said that the party is passing through a complete transformation and, after giving numerous sacrifices, its leadership has struck a deal with its erstwhile rivals, including PML-Q and the establishment.
“Under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP has gained many achievements. Following the political philosophy of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, the party has reconciled with its all foes. Even the alliance with PML-Q is in line with the reconciliation policy of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,” said Nadeem Afzal in an interview with Pakistan Today.
Elabourating the wisdom behind the PPP-PML-Q alliance, Gondal said it was being done so in the larger national interest and achieving politico-economic stability in the country which would not only give an end to the years-long political rivalries but also would be beneficial for the poor by bringing economic stability to the country.
“When the PPP-led coalition government was formed after the February elections in 2008, political experts were saying that it would not last long. Even some gave a six-month deadline. There was also a history of short tenures by two PPP governments in 1988 and in 1993. But, under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP is marching on its way to complete its term,” he added.
Gondal who defeated the powerful Parachas of Sargodha for the first time added the country needed stability and political maturity. Asked how the staunch PPP workers would digest the alliance with PML-Q, especially in PML-Q-dominated districts of Gujrat, Attock, Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin, Gondal said of course there would be resentment, but the workers would swallow this bitter pill in the larger national interest.
Nadeem Afzal said President Zardari had steered the party out of the crisis though it had lost Benazir Bhutto in December 2007. Asked why the president had sidelined all the senior leaders of the party, Gondal defended the party co-chairperson and said he was justified in sidelining Aitzaz Ahsan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Israr Shah, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Naheed Khan and others.
“Every leader has the right to bring forth the people with whom he feels comfortable. “The president, besides the party’s central executive committee (CEC), has formed a core committee and normally holds consultations at three to four forums. No one is snubbed by him,” said Gondal. He called upon the PML-N leadership to show political maturity on national issues.
The country should not be pushed back to the age of confrontation of late 80s and early 90s as political rivalries played havoc with the politicians as well as the masses. The difference of opinion on issues should be conveyed in a democratic manner,” he added.On the creation of new provinces, Gondal said the PPP leadership was clear and wanted political consensus on Seraiki province. However, he said, the issue needed political debate and creation of any province, including Seraiki, would not be possible before the next general elections.
