KARACHI, March 13: Nearly a month after the nation went to the polls on February 18, a very visible power struggle is playing itself out principally in Islamabad regarding who will be the Pakistan People’s Party’s candidate for the premiership. Though after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination Makhdoom Amin Fahim was considered a shoe-in for the slot if the party gathered the requisite seats, the ground reality seems to be constantly changing at a rapid pace. Though the party’s leadership – as well as its workers – seems dismissive of any talk suggesting a possible fissure within the PPP, with Pir Mazharul Haq, the party’s designated parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, recently asking the media not to dwell on the issue at a recent press conference, analysts believe that if the Makhdoom of Hala is indeed bypassed, it will negatively affect party workers.

“Amin Fahim definitely has his supporters. Mr Zardari does not have that much support within the PPP as previous (to Ms Bhutto’s assassination) he remained mainly in the background. The party workers do support Amin Fahim. For whatever reasons, if someone else is nominated for the post of prime minister, it will affect the workers, especially in Sindh,” historian and scholar Dr Mubarak Ali told Dawn.

But Saeed Ghani, Information Secretary of the PPP’s Karachi chapter and leader of the opposition in the City Council belonging to the PPP-backed Awam Dost panel, said that contrary to the rumours doing the rounds, party workers were hardly perturbed about the goings on in Islamabad.

“The people are waiting. There is no such anxiety among the workers. The party workers realise things are not that easy to sort out. Circles are at work trying to prevent a workable solution,” he said.

When asked to clarify which “circles” he was referring to, he quite bluntly replied “the presidency and the agencies. The veteran political workers are not that concerned. They know how certain forces try to manipulate the process. The workers are not that bothered about the names. They just want the party to stay intact and want what is best for the party and the nation,” adding that the party cadre will respect the leadership’s choice for the country’s top slot.

But Dr Mubarak Ali was of the opinion that all was not smooth sailing within the party.

“It appears the PPP is facing a crisis. It seems the Zardari family is controlling the party. At least that’s the impression being created,” he observed.

When asked to comment on possible machinations to throw the process of transition off course, he said “there are many conspiracy theories doing the rounds. The agencies will definitely do their bit. But there must be some rift within the party which the establishment is exploiting. And it seems that the establishment is willing to work with Mr Fahim. However, it is very sad that the PPP old guard is not willing to criticise its leadership.”

Irfan Durrani, President of the People’s Student Federation, District South, speaking to Dawn from the PPP’s Karachi stronghold of Lyari, also brushed aside suggestions of an internal rift saying that the party had survived equally contentious crises.

“We are united towards achieving Benazir Bhutto’s goal. All these internal matters will be solved by the party’s high command. The prime minister issue is being blown out of proportion. It is not a major issue at all. Asif (Zardari) Sahib is in contact with Makhdoom (Amin Fahim) Sahib. It will soon be sorted out. Makhdoom Sahib is a senior party leader. He has given a lot to the party, as have the other leaders. When people like Faisal Saleh Hayat and Dr Sher Afgan Niazi ditched the PPP, leaders like Amin Fahim and Yousuf Raza Gillani stuck with it,” he said.