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| November 26, 2006 | Sunday | Ziqa'ad 4, 1427 |
Most IDG leaders to join PPP
LAHORE, Nov 25: The Independent Democratic Group, set up by prominent people from across the country in 2004 for struggle against dictatorship, will stand dissolved as most of its members from Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP will be joining the PPP of Ms Benazir Bhutto.
Former ambassador and minister Begum Abida Husain, her spouse Syed Fakhr Imam, Amanullah Shahani, former Balochistan chief minister Mir Taj Muhammad Jamali, former NA deputy speaker Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Said Munir Shah and Salim Khan Khalil are reported to have decided to work under the leadership of the PPP chairperson.
Other leaders will be taking any decision about their future course of action according to the wishes of their respective supporters.
It is said that IDG leaders had recently met to decide that since the general elections would be held in 2007, it was time for everyone to join any party of his/her liking.
Begum Abida Husain is due to leave for London on Sunday (today) to meet the self-exiled former prime minister on Monday and announce her decision to join the PPP.
Accompanied by her husband, Begum Abida had earlier met the PPP chairperson in London in July.
Begum Abida thinks that the present rulers have weakened the federation and Ms Bhutto was in a better position compared to any other leader to deal with the challenges facing the country. She is also of the firm view that the PPP chairperson was the only leader who could return the country to democracy and get the people their due rights.
Mian Muhammad Azhar, who was once the PML-Q president, has reservations about joining the PPP. He has also differences with PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif. However, so far he has not taken any decision on joining any party.
Former ministers Col Sarwar Cheema (retired) and Iftikhar Gilani will also take any decision according to their interests.
Omer Farooq Miankhel is not joining the PPP because he has not been given an assurance that he would be given a ticket in the next election.
Sources say that the PPP chairperson will have no objection to his joining the party “unconditionally”. —Ashraf Mumtaz
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