ISLAMABAD, July 28: Who was the driving force behind the PPP’s decision to boycott the presidential election?

Although office-bearers of the party claim it was a unanimous decision, a PPP insider told Dawn that Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan insisted on withdrawing the nomination papers of Senator Raza Rabbani and the party accepted his stance.

Despite repeated attempts, Mr Ahsan couldn’t be reached for comments.

However, the party source said that on July 24, when the Supreme Court passed its judgment to hold presidential election on July 30 instead of Aug 6, Senator Ahsan raised voice against the ruling and pushed for a boycott.

“In the absence of Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah, who on the day of SC ruling was recuperating after surgery, Senator Ahsan led his party in talks with other opposition parties, asking them to join the PPP in its boycott,” said the source.

On July 25, Mr Ahsan besides holding in-house party meetings went to see Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of the PML-Q and Imran Khan of the PTI and argued in favour of boycott.

Had Khursheed Shah, known for his dovish demeanour in politics, not been absent the PPP would not have decided to boycott the election, the source said.

When asked whether or not President Asif Zardari was consulted on the matter, the PPP leader said that after being briefed on the SC decision the president, who was in London at the time, allowed the party leaders to take a decision after consulting other opposition parties.

Since the entire argument about boycotting the election was weaved around the SC decision and Senator Ahsan as the ‘legal eagle’ of the party was unequivocally opposing the ruling, leaders like Amin Faheem couldn’t give any input.

On July 26, when it was decided that the PPP would boycott the election, Khursheed Shah was asked to attend a press conference. Still recuperating from surgery, Mr Shah came to the party secretariat but remained in pain and left immediately after the press conference.

“By the time Mr Shah came to know about Senator Aitzaz’s talks with opposition parties, the decision had been made and he couldn’t say much about it,” said the party source.

He said the PPP’s decision could also be attributed to Imran Khan who in his meeting with Senator Aitzaz agreed with the PPP’s contention that the SC decision only favoured the PML-N candidate.

“Once President Zardari was informed about talks with Mr Khan and the PML-Q and ANP leaders, who all were for boycotting the election, he also agreed with Senator Aitzaz,” said the source.

However, after consultations within his party, Mr Khan decided to contest the election and fielded Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad as candidate. — Khawar Ghumman