KARACHI, Aug 31: Amid criticism of poor showing in the local body elections, especially in Sindh, the Pakistan People’s Party on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to MNA Syed Qurban Ali Shah for violating party discipline during the elections and holding a meeting with the Sindh chief minister publicly.

Mr Shah, who was elected MNA on a PPP-Parliamentarians ticket in 2002 election from Mirpurkhas (NA-127), was served the notice by its Secretary-General Raja Pervez Ashraf.

In 1983, while the MRD movement was at its peak, he became detached and in 1985, he contested the non-party elections to the Shoora of General Ziaul Haq against the party’s directives. But in 1988, he was allowed back into the PPP fold and contested elections on its ticket.

Mr Shah also played a key role in leading the revolt against Ms Benazir Bhutto in 1989-90 and was very active in propelling the vote of no-confidence against her government. He later joined Mian Nawaz Sharif. In 1993 and 1997, he contested against Pir Aftab Shah Jillani of PPP but could not win.

According to insiders, not acceding to Qurban Ali Shah’s demand for giving him some UCs had cost the PPP a serious setback in Sindh as his two sons had joined the ruling party.

Apparently, it was not the question of just a few UCs. The cleavage appeared much deeper. PPP sources were silent when asked what was the actual cause and when would Mr Shah again be provided the party platform and at whose behest. He is not the only one to have breached the party discipline. Sattar Bachani had supported Irfan Gul Magsi of PML-F, and there are many other examples.

Meanwhile, the provincial chief of the PPP Syed Qaim Ali Shah has issued a show-cause notice to the federal council member and former provincial minister Ghulam Mohammad Shaliani of Jacobabad for meeting the chief minister in violation of party discipline. His daughter, Tahira Shaliani, is a member of the Sindh Assembly and was elected on PPP-Parliamentarians’ ticket.

The PPP cadre is furious over poor showing in the local body election and failure of their leadership to devise a strategy to offset the regime’s alleged rigging and strong arm tactics.

They believe that while the ‘unprecedented’ rigging and use of brute force against the opposition was anticipated and happened to be the main factor in their eclipse, the grouping within the leadership is also a contributory factor. They are demanding expulsion of opportunists from the party.

A senior PPP loyalist, on condition of anonymity, said that “mere discussions in Dubai will not improve the situation. It’s time she (Benazir Bhutto) listened to the party’s loyalist cadre. Heads must roll for its poor showing… we must come out of the drawing rooms.”

While Ms Bhutto analyzed her party’s dismal performance, this senior PPP man pointed to an interesting phenomenon that contributed to the outcome. He said that most of the bigwigs could not secure their own UC because they pulled each other’s leg, while many of them defied the ‘party’s choice’ and fielded their own nominee. Leaders, who played the decisive role, also became ‘whimsical’ in the choice of candidates and their approach was subjective. Discipline was lacking as there was no true accountability, he said.

In the whole province, Tando Ghulam Ali was the only UC where Awam Dost panel was elected unopposed. The loss of Ratodero UC in Ms Bhutto’s own constituency was a great shock. The party-backed candidates in Larkana were, in some cases, opposed by the party’s bigwigs, including Haji Munawar Abbasi who was reportedly also backing some candidates contesting against Awam Dost nominees, said the PPP sources. Ayaz Soomro, who is also an MPA from Ms Bhutto’s constituency, could not save her home UC from going to the SNF. Nisar Khuhro succeeded in nine UCs but could not protect Aqil.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah could not ensure victory of the Awam Dost candidate in Jillani UC, in Khairpur, of which he is a resident. MPA Zahid could not protect UC Faizganj while Pir Abdul Qadir Jillani lost Ranipur UC 1.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim had to be confined to Hala to protect his constituency where the ruling junta had made inroads by exploiting family differences. There were also complains against Makhdoom Rafiq that he had fielded his own candidates against Awam Dost panel in Qasimabad. But they crossed over to the ruling party and used brute police force against the Awam Dost nominees. In Tando Mohammad Khan, the Awam Dost could win only four of the 16 UCs.

Interestingly, MNAs Syed Khurshid Shah and Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada failed to protect their sphere of influence in Sukkur while Nasrullah Baloch and Javed Shah also lost their UCs.

In Naushehro Firoz, Malhar Khan Rajpar, district president and father-in-law of MPA Farheen Mughal, could not secure four UCs in the constituency. Only MPA Abdul Haq managed to protect his UC. In taluka Dokri, Nazir and Hizbullah Bughio could not ensure success and lost UC Bughia. Nawaz Chandio lost Golarchi taluka while Sikandar Mandhro could not defend his own UC in Badin. It was due to conflict of interest between Mirzas and Nizamanis and others. In Mirpurkhas the conflict between Qurban Ali Shah, Pir Aftab Shah Jillani and Nawab Yusuf Talpur deprived the party of success in the constituency.

MNA Naveed Qamar could not get his brother elected in Tando Haider UC whereas Abdul Khaliq Soomro lost Janhan Soomro.

In Karachi’s Lyari area, Awam Dost panel won five UCs while another five were secured by the nominees of Nabeel Gabol. According to insiders, Mr Gabol had proposed certain names for the constituencies but the same had been struck down by Naheed Khan, who fielded other candidates. The Lyari nominations had generated some protest by PPP workers at Bilawal House.

Stalwarts like Munawwar Talpur, Nawab Yusuf Talpur, Pir Aftab Shah Jillani and others also could not muster enough support.

PPP insiders say that as the general elections may be called earlier than scheduled, opportunists would destroy the party unless Ms Bhutto returns.