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| January 17, 2006 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 16, 1426 |
Khar back in PPP fold
LAHORE, Jan 16: Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar’s consistent efforts to make a room for himself in the PPP bore fruit on Monday as chairperson Benazir Bhutto gave him green light to work in cooperation with other leaders to strengthen the party.
A workers’ convention to be held in Multan on Jan 19 has been cancelled and now the Punjab PPP executive committee will meet on Wednesday to chalk out a schedule for a series of conventions in the province.
The former governor’s return to the party fold was announced at a news conference by provincial president Qasim Zia and federal council secretary-general Khalid Kharal. Khar, information secretary Naveed Chaudhry and media adviser Iqbal Sialvi were also present.
Secretary-general Jehangir Badr could not turn up as he had to leave for Karachi.
Qasim said he welcomed Khar to the party fold as the chairperson had allowed him to play a role. However, he made it clear that the party was already quite active and it was for this reason that it had got the highest votes in the 2002 general elections and won recent bar elections at a number of places.
Khar said he would play the role of a bridge between the old and new party workers and prepare them for taking over power. Unless the workers were properly prepared to shoulder responsibilities it would be no use accepting power even if it was offered, he said.
He said the PPP would not beg power but would get it as a result of popular support. Khar said Ms Bhutto would be brought back to Pakistan to a rousing welcome like the one she had received in 1986, when she had returned from the self-exile.
The former governor said all political forces should share power and work for the reconstruction of the country.
He underlined the need for Punjab to safeguard the interests of the smaller provinces.
He said he would let MQM chief Altaf Husain know that Punjabi officials posted in Sindh were not being treated properly.
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