PPP in two minds over political crisis

• While Zardari and Shah don’t want to see democracy derailed, Fahim is thinking on other lines
• Zardari says PPP committed to protection of democracy, constitution
• Fahim says masses fed up of government and want to get rid of it
• Shah says he will stand by govt if anyone tried to overthrow it undemocratically

Conflicting statements have emerged from different leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) over the recent political environment formed in anticipation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s “Azadi March” on August 14.

While PPP Co Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and National Assembly opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah have bordered their stance on the PPP-style “reconciliatory approach in favour of the democratic system”, PPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim has articulated the public sentiment as being against the incumbent government.

Zardari telephoned Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday and discussed with them the current political situation in the country. He made it clear that PPP was keeping an eye on the latest political situation and is committed to the protection of the democracy and the constitution.

PPP spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the phone calls were made a short while ago on Monday afternoon by the former president from London. He said that Zardari believed that it was necessary to engage other political forces for defending the constitution and democracy.

On the contrary, PPP president Fahim stated Monday that masses will have to decide about their fate and future of country on August 14.

Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Fahim claimed that masses were fed up with the one year performance of incumbent government and they wanted to get rid of it. He said that poor governance and mismanagement of the sitting government has adversely disappointed the country who had to face several problems including poverty, inflation, unemployment and uncertain law and order situation.

Amidst apparently conflicting approaches adopted by Zardari and Fahim, Syed Khursheed Shah sided for the “protection of democracy” saying that he would stand by the government if anyone tried to overthrow it undemocratically.

During the NA session on Monday, Shah clarified that his party PPP would support the PML-N.

Further, in a meeting with federal minister Zaid Hamid in Islamabad, Shah said he would try to convince PTI chief Imran Khan and the government to resolve their differences.