June 30, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 25, 1429

HYDERABAD, June 29: Pakistan People’s Party vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that he has nothing to do with the government which is being run by ‘a new PPP’.

Talking to journalists at the launching of a book by Gul Mohammad Shah, he said the PPP was not someone’s personal fief, but a party of the people. But nowadays a line had been drawn within the PPP, segregating the old guard from the new.

Expressing concern over the situation in the country, he said the people were facing a number of serious problems.

His speech at the function was laced with innuendoes.

Replying to a question, Mr Fahim denied that he was being tipped for the post of president after the impeachment of Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. “It’s just a rumour and there is no truth in it,” he said.

He said that while the people were facing hunger, poverty, joblessness and price hike, speeches were being made about impeachment and whether to reinstate the deposed judges.

“No one is paying attention to the real issues confronting the masses,” he said.

Referring to the 100-day programme announced by the prime minister, Mr Fahim said only promises had been made and this period had been consumed by the argument whether the deposed judges should be brought back through an executive order or a constitutional package.

“A line has been drawn in the PPP that segregates the old guard from the new leaders. The PPP is being run by new leaders and I have nothing to do with the present government. But the PPP is not a fief of anyone, it’s a party of poor people who have given it a mandate. People don’t want to see a split in the party,” he said in reply to a question.

He called for strengthening democracy and said it had been restored thanks to the wisdom of late Benazir Bhutto who had made an army general quit the military and hold general lections.

The urged the people to avoid unnecessary political bickering which he said could be dangerous.

He expressed the hope that the government would address the ‘real issues’.

He also said that only the government “can decide whether President Musharraf should be given a safe passage”.

He said it was becoming difficult for the people of the middle class to pay electricity bills. “While there is no power supply the consumers continue to receive bills for full consumption of the month,” he said.