LAHORE: While the Pakistan People’s Party on Saturday rejected the resignation of Firdous Ashiq Awan, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar categorically denied reports of her quitting the party.

“I have no plan to quit PPP and any report in this regard is baseless,” Ms Rabbani told Dawn.

As a good number of PPP stalwarts joined the Imran Khan’s PTI, the name of the former first woman foreign minister of the country was also being included in the list of those who were considering to say goodby to the party.

Ghulam Rabbani Khar, father of Hina Khar, was elected on NA-177 Muzaffargarh in by-election. “There could be some difference of opinion on the party matters but the Rabbani family is committed to the PPP,” a party leader from the south said.

Hina Khar denies quitting PPP

He said although a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf stalwart was quite active in approaching the Pakistan People’s Party leaders in the south, he did not get much success.

PPP old guard from Multan Nazim Husain Shah who is also not happy with the policies of the leadership, is also weighing the option to join the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf .

“Mr Shah’s political rival is already in the PTI and this may stop him making his mind to quit the PPP,” he said.

Sources said Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto had made it clear to the leaders from Punjab that those quitting the party for their ‘personal gains’ should better not to be persuaded. And the genuine reservations of the leaders over the party policies should be addressed immediately.

They said the chairman was advised by the Punjab leaders to bring forward ‘upright and clean faces’ so that the image of the party could be improved.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party has rejected the resignation of former federal information minister Firdous Ashiq Awan from the post of Punjab vice president.

“The party has rejected Firdous Ashiq Awan’s resignation and asked her to continue serving the party,” PPP central Punjab President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo said.

Ms Awan was critical of the leadership for its ‘friendly opposition’ role, which according to her, would cost the party dearly.

She suggested to Mr Bilawal that the problems afflicting the party were of a serious nature and ‘major surgery’ was needed to overcome them.

The ailments could no longer be treated by ‘homoeopathy doses’.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2015

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