The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s ‘Difa-e-Jamhooriat’ rally in Karachi to express unanimous support for President Asif Ali Zardari – scheduled for November 13 – has been cancelled, according to an announcement on Wednesday.
“The rally has been cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances,” stated a press release issued by the PPP-Karachi Chapter.
The PPP Sindh Chapter had announced holding the rally before the gatherings organised against the president by Imran Khan led Tehreek-e-Insaf and Sharif brothers of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) in Lahore. Earlier, the rally had been scheduled for November 6 at the Nishtar Park but its date and venue were changed.
According to the statement issued by PPP Karachi President Najmi Alam, the ruling party is following the policy of reconciliation initiated by [its former chairperson] Benazir Bhutto and implemented by President Zardari. “The reconciliation policy has developed a culture of tolerance.”
“The announcement of [Difa-e-Jamhooriat] rally had created an impression that the PPP has ended its reconciliatory policy and was adopting a policy of confrontation,” he stated.
Alam said that all arrangements for the rally had been finalised and the PPP Karachi was scheduled to show the power it wields. “The rally was cancelled under the directives received from the party’s provincial body.”
He said that the party would not adopt the politics of confrontation and continue its reconciliatory policy. “The PPP will tackle its opponents and the creations of establishment politically.”
Sources within the party told Pakistan Today that the planned rally was cancelled under the directives of the president, who does not want to hold political gatherings in its coalition partner’s [Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)] stronghold.
On October 30, the MQM had also organised a rally in protest of the derogatory language used by PML-N leader and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif against President Zardari – also the PPP co-chairman.