LAHORE: Admitting the existence of factionalism in the PPP for the first time, former president Asif Ali Zardari warned all the groups on Tuesday to settle their differences before his intervention.

Unhappy over reports of infighting, especially in the Punjab chapter of the party, the PPP co-chairman categorically asked all leaders patronising such groups to end the dissension. “The party workers are with me. They are not with you. I have to distribute tickets (for future elections) among the workers. I suggest to you to end grouping and shun differences before I intervene,” Mr Zardari warned while addressing the party workers in connection with the PPP’s 47th foundation day at the Bilawal House here.

This is for the first time Mr Zardari openly talked about groups in the party since he took over its leadership after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Dec 2007.

In the two-day convention of party workers, slogans were chanted against some senior leaders of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The PPP rules Sindh and Mr Zardari spends most of his time in Karachi.

As slogans were chanted against Manzoor Wattoo, Jehangir Badr and Syed Mehdi Shah, Mr Zardari said: “I will not be impressed by ‘go Wattoo’ or ‘go Badr’… I want you to reconcile and get united to serve the people.”

In an apparent reference to those PPP leaders who were reportedly considering joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Mr Zardari said: “Those who were not active in politics for 20 years, I gave them good positions. We don’t need those who want to join the umpire.”

He regretted that he could not frequently interact with workers when he was president.

“Now I will visit every district and meet you and solve your problems,” he said.

Responding to ‘Go Nawaz go’ slogans during his speech, Mr Zardari said: “It was the PPP that had given the slogan of ‘Go Baba go’ 20 years ago. Today ‘Go Nawaz go’ slogan is being chanted.”

Taking on the PTI chief for his earlier decision to ‘block Pakistan’ on Dec 16, the former president said: “Imran Khan Niazi Sahib should better know that the fall of Dhaka took place on Dec 16. He does not have political acumen. Islamabad is not a Somnath temple to be invaded again and again.”

Referring to workers’ dissatisfaction over the leadership’s decision to support the PML-N government in the current political scenario, he said: “I cannot make a wrong decision. I have to care for this country. I think about future generations. We need to act carefully while taking decisions in politics.”

Senior PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim also told Mr Zardari that factions had emerged in the party and they were working against each other both in the country and abroad. He also asked the co-chairman not to ignore senior leaders. “Come forward and reconcile these groups. But do not ignore old party leaders, including myself, as old is gold,” Mr Fahim said.

The PPP workers asked the party co-chairman “where is Bilawal Bhutto”. “Zardari Sahib tell us where is Bilawal Bhutto. What he is doing in London while we have gathered here to celebrate the party’s foundation day,” a worker spoke out his mind when he was given the mike to talk on party matters. Members of the organising team, however, ‘snatched’ the mike from him.

Mr Zardari did not tell the workers why Mr Bilawal had skipped this important event.

Bilawal, however, tweeted that he wanted to return, but doctors had advised him otherwise. “Despite my insistence, the doctor has vetoed my return temporarily. You the workers will have to guide us.”

Published in Dawn December 3rd , 2014