THATTA: Conspicuous absence of influential Shirazi group from a large gathering held to mark the 97th birth anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Darro town, Sujawal district, on Monday laid bare internal rifts within the Pakistan Peoples Party’s chapters of Thatta and Sujawal districts.

Former PPP MNA Arbab Wazir Memon, who organised the event in collaboration with Shirazi group’s rival factions within the party, said in a fiery speech there was “no Pir, Mir, Wadera or Syed in the PPP, we are all equal as party workers and committed to the vision of Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto”.

Memon reaffirmed the party’s trust in the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and strongly defended Ashiq Hussain Zardari, son of current PPP MPA from Thatta’s coastal constituency Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, and said Ashiq Zardari’s critics must recognise his deep-rooted presence in the politics of lower Sindh.

A large number of development projects had been spearheaded by Haji Ali Hassan Zardari in the area, he said.

The Shirazi brothers had been bitter opponents of PPP in past, especially during military rule of Gen Pervez Musharraf, but they jumped the ship ahead of 2018 general election and joined the PPP, securing afterwards notable victories in 2018 and 2024 general elections as well as 2023 local body polls.

Supporters of the Shirazi group accused Memon and provincial minister Mohammad Ali Malkani of trying to undermine Shirazis in order to bolster political prospects of Ashiq Ali Zardari.

They alleged that attempts were being made to damage ties between mainstream PPP leadership and Shirazi group, which contradicted core democratic principles of the party.

Syed Ayaz Shah Shirazi, PPP MNA from Sujawal district, dismissed the attempts to marginalise his group and said: “We are not intimidated by such tactics and will continue to serve people.”

He accused local PPP leadership of pursuing personal ambitions by trying to stifle and limit Shirazi group’s influence.

In his address, Memon hinted at past rivalries, remarking that many former opponents of Haji Ali Hassan Zardari now stood by him as his allies. “People vote for the party of Z.A. Bhutto, not for any feudal or spiritual leader,” he asserted.

The event also witnessed speeches by Deputy Speaker of Sindh Assembly Rehana Laghari, provincial minister and district president of PPP Sujawal Muham­mad Ali Malkani, chairman of district council Danish Malkani, PPP Thatta general secretary Imtiaz Qureshi, former MPA Ghulam Qadir Palijo, Heer Suho, Iqbal Memon and Ashiq Zardari.

The change in political dynamics signals potential shifts within PPP’s Thatta-Sujawal chapters, with new alliances and rivalries likely to shape the party’s future in the coastal region.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2025