HYDERABAD: Dispute between party leaders in the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Hyderabad district chapter over allotment of tickets in local government elections (LG) has brought to the fore deep internal rifts and clash of personalities ahead of the polls.

The PPP district leadership took up the issues before Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who arrived here the other day to settle the simmering squabbles.

Some party workers held a demonstration outside the residence of former Sindh minister Ali Nawaz Shah where the CM met the party’s district president Zahid Bhurgari, general secretary Jam Khan Shoro, Maula Bux Chandio, Dr Irfan Magsi, MNA Ameer Ali Shah Jamote. The CM did not meet the protesting workers before leaving.

Most party leaders raised the issue of PPP youth wing president Ahsanullah Abro’s press conference on Oct 8 in which he lashed out at Mr Bhurgari and others over tickets allotment. Mr Abro should be suspended for violating party discipline and raising party matters before media instead of at the party’s forum, they said.

An enraged Amanulalh Siyal told the CM that Mr Abro had accused him of wrongdoing in Mehran Workers Society and asserted that if he was accused of corruption he was ready to quit the party.

Mr Siyal pointed out absence of women in party meetings and said that only Sanam Talpur, district women wing president, was attending the meetings. The district leadership was also ready to quit if Sahito’s basic membership was restored, said Bhurgari.

Responding to MNA Jamote’s objection that parliamentary board’s members were not consulted on ticket allotments, Mr Bhurgari said nominations were signed by the parliamentary board.

Mr Abro, who has been levelling allegations at party leadership at press conference and on social media, is currently attending five-day training in Islamabad for which the party had nominated him.

Kaleem Khanzada, PPP youth wing district president, who spoke on Mr Abro’s behalf disputed Mr Bhrugari’s claim, saying that 70 per cent of his briefing was factually incorrect. Mr Khanzada was allowed to speak only after intervention by some party leaders.

The chief minister exhorted the participants to forget their petty disputes and pay attention to election. Mr Bhurgari and Mr Shoro who were handling election matters must iron out their differences to strengthen position of PPP candidates, he said.

Mr Siyal confirmed to Dawn that he told the chief minister that he was not willing to work on any post if he was blamed for corruption by workers.

The PPP lost for similar reasons a couple of seats in the election of Cantonment Board Hyderabad held in April.

Ali Ahmed Sahito, who had twice contested elections as PPP candidate on national assembly seats, had also held a press conference against Mr Bhurgari who gave him a quick response by sending him a legal notice.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2015

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