Like the Awami National Party (ANP), rifts have emerged amongst the ranks of ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over nomination of candidates for the scheduled Senate elections. It has emerged a group from Peshawar is not only opposing the nominations but demanding its early revision. The PPP has nominated Farhatullah Babar, Ahmad Hassan Khan, Shamrooz Khan and Rubina Khalid as its candidates for the Senate. Whereas members from Peshawar have demanded nominations for themselves. According to the formula, PPP has the right to nominate candidates against five berths of the Upper House but has left one vacant for independent candidates due to an agreement. Independents have reportedly nominated a close relative of former federal minister and PML-Q leader Amir Muqam.
From Peshawar, apart from other candidates former District Nazim Azam Afridi, ex-MPA Syed Ayub Shah and Begum Tehmas Khan, mother of sitting MPA Shazia Tehmas Khan have applied for Senate berths. But all three were ignored. In response, Syed Ayub Shah, Azam Hoti and their supporters including the party’s provincial general secretary Dost Mohammad Khan are not only threatening revolt but even challenged the loyalty and sincerity of the four nominated candidates to the party.
Without the need to favour Farhat Ullah Babar, who is currently serving President Asif Ali Zardari as his special press adviser or spokesman. From Pir Payee town in Nowshehra district, Farhat is not only close relative of late Naseer Ullah Babar but he remained loyal to late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. Similarly he remained loyal to the party since its inception, particularly in the dictatorial regimes of Zia and Musharaf.
Ahmad Hassan belong to Dir region. Though he and his family have long standing affiliations with the PPP but he has served the party in various capacities since 1988. For a brief term, he had served PPP-Sherpao but later returned to the mother party. He is considered a soft spoken and competent parliamentarian. He served Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs. Rubina Khalid is widow of late intellectual Rauf Khalid, who remained author of well famous television play “Aag” on Kashmir, She is sister of Syed Zahir Ali Shah presently serving as Senior Minister in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa. Belong to Abbottabad, Shamrooz Khan is considered diehard PPP worker. He had served as provincial minister for a brief period in 1994-96 and remained loyal to PPP for a long time.
Given this, the attempt to caricature the PPP-nominated Senate candidates past from Peshawar’s disgruntled stalwarts seems unjust. Almost all PPP MPs were elected from Dir, Mardan, Nowshehra, Peshawar, Dera Ismael Khan and other regions and the parties preferring Senators areas were it is elected. Shamrooz Khan’s nomination could help the PPP win back its old position in Hazara region. Similarly, awarding tickets to Farhat Ullah Babar and Rubina Khalid are considered attempts to please party stalwarts.
Rubina Khalid belongs to Peshawar and her family has made valuable contribution to the party. Similarly, Farhat Ullah Babar enjoys a respectable status in Nowshehra, Peshawar and Islamabad. All four could give an unprecedented boost up to PPP upon entering the Senate.
