KARACHI, Dec 18: Benazir Bhutto has turned down Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s resignation as People’s Party Parliamentarian’s chief and asked him to continue to lead the party.
Amin had flown to Dubai to submit his resignation to Ms Bhutto after feeling morally bound to do so and not succeeding in his efforts to form the party government.
Talking to newsmen on return from Dubai on Wednesday night, Makhdoom Amin said the “resignation did not represent any difference with the party leadership. Benazir Bhutto is our leader and whatever she decides we act according to that.”
HE SAID: “I had resigned on principles because I was given a task to form the government. I could not succeed in that, so I felt morally bound to make way for someone else to take over.”
But Ms Bhutto declined to accept the resignation and appreciating his efforts calling him to continue lead the party, he said.
Replying to a question Makhdoom Fahim deplored the phenomenon of ‘lotacracy’ and said the party would take action against those who had ditched the party, according to its Constitution.
He said those who switched over loyalties, had been suspended from the Central Executive of the party and notices had been issued to them.
Replying to another question, he said various matters about party affairs evolving political situation within the country were discussed during his meeting with Ms Bhutto. But he parried to disclose substance of the matter.
RAZA RABBANI:Acting secretary-general of the party, Mian Raza Rabbani, said in Islamabad his Amin’s resignation was turned down by the party chairperson on the basis of the services rendered by Amin Fahim, adds Faraz Hashmi. Fahim rendering meritorious services to the party and setting good democratic traditions.
He said party chairperson also reminded the PPP president that the entire state apparatus had been utilized to deny PPP its democratic right to form in the province of Sindh.
A PPP spokesman Farhat Ullah Babar said Makhdoom’s action was based on the argument that he accepted the whole responsibility of not being able to form party governments.
Babar said Benazir rejected the resignation on the basis that having secured the highest number of popular votes in the elections and highest number of assembly seats in Sindh the party was entitled to form governments both in the Centre and in Sindh.
