LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) seems to be reluctant to take disciplinary action against the Wattoos who have violated the party discipline by contesting against the party’s candidates in various Okara constituencies.

The PPP has acted against other leaders who are contesting as independents, particularly in the constituencies where the party’s candidates are in the fray.

Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo is central senior vice-president of the party and is in the run as an independent candidate against PPP nominee Shehzad Naul in NA-144 (Okara-IV). Mr Wattoo’s son Mr Khurram, PPP Sahiwal division president and daughter Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, the party’s Punjab women wing chief, have obtained tickets of PTI for PP-185 and PP-186 (Punjab Assembly seats falling under NA-144).

The PPP has fielded its nominee for PP-185 but could not find a suitable candidate for the PP-186 as the Wattoos changed their loyalties at the eleventh hour, leaving no time for the party to find alternatives.

Mr Wattoo says he had approached the leadership to seek the permission for contest as independents.

PPP Punjab chapter acting secretary general Osman Malik says Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has declined Mr Wattoo’s suggestion, making it clear that only those will be considered the party’s candidates who are contesting on ‘arrow’ symbol and that the party will not leave the seats open for the “independents”.

The party has removed its south Punjab information secretary ex-MPA Shaukat Basra from his office for contesting as an independent. A similar action has been initiated against Nasira Mayo, who is campaigning in a Kasur constituency against party leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed.

But, no action has so far been visible against the Wattoos.

When asked, senior party leader and ex-Senator Farhatullah Babar said by ditching the party the Wattoos would themselves die politically so there was no need to initiate any disciplinary action against them.

“When senior party office-bearers like Manzoor Wattoo Sahib act like this, they harm themselves more than undermining the party. It is then immaterial whether customary disciplinary action is taken or not. Laws of nature are stern, unforgiving and immutable. It is a self-inflicted disciplinary action. One can’t say anything more and one doesn’t have to.”

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018