KARACHI: Forward bloc move for Sindh PPP fizzles out
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 18: The very first attempt to create a forward bloc in the Sindh chapter of the People’s Party Parliamentarians apparently suffered an early set back when those, supposed by the forward block mastermind as favourites, termed the reports ‘disinformation and mechanition of the regime’. They also attended a party meeting.
According to Nisar Khuhro, provincial chief of the PPP, 65 party MPAs attended the meeting which reviewed the evolving situation. Two other members, from the minority, had sought leave for attending some religious meeting outside Karachi.
Addressing the meeting, Jam Saifullah Dharejo and others described the so-called forward bloc moves as a part of disinformation and said that if they could not be enticed to support the establishment during Jam Sadiq’s time, how could they betray the party and its supporters at this critical juncture.
Saifullah Dharejo said that the establishment was trying hard, through pressure and inducements, to entice the PPP elected representatives to change their loyalty, but those who remained committed to the party’s democratic struggle and its leader Ms Benazir Bhutto, would not betray their leader and supporters.
Mr Khuhro alleged that the federal government was meddling in the affairs of the formation of governments in provinces.
He denied reports that a forward bloc in the party was taking shape and said this was an example of how the regime was trying to subvert democratic dispensation.
Nisar Khuhro praised the steadfastness of those who withstood the pressure of the regime and did not fall in the trap. He said that their presence in the meeting was to show the solidarity of the party in the province which is passing through very critical juncture.
Nisar Khuhro said that he had tried to form a coalition with the MQM to provide stability that could resolve problems of the people. He, however, regretted that despite the MQM’s traumatic experiences while supporting the governments in 1990 and 1997, the party had chosen to repeated the same mistake by remaining with the same elements.
He said the PPP’s overtures were based on sincerity and aimed at providing lasting peace and stability to the people. He made it clear that the PPP’s talks with various political forces had not yet broken down and efforts were on to bridge the gap.
Sources said that during the meeting, some of the members were critical of the organizational lapses within the party. These members emphasized on measures enabling the cadre to play an effective role in the decision-making process.
