ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, former AJK prime minister, is set to rejoin the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after more than four years, sources told Dawn here on Monday.
Barrister Chaudhry, who announced formation of his own party Jammu and Kashmir People's Muslim League (JKPML) in April 2006 after Benazir Bhutto sacked him for violating the party discipline, is expected to announce the merger of his party with the PPP in a day or two.
Sources said Barrister Chaudhry met Faryal Talpur, sister of PPP co-chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari, in Islamabad on Monday evening.
He is expected to announce the decision of rejoining the PPP in a news conference with Ms Talpur at the PPP's Central Secretariat or Zardari House.
Barrister Chaudhry, who was the opposition leader in the AJK Assembly when he was sacked from the AJKPP, had already met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani last week.
Political experts believe the AJKPP would become more active in the region and the legislative assembly. Barrister Chaudhry's current party has four members in the legislative assembly. After his sacking, the PPP failed to find his replacement in the AJK to lead the party proactively.
But sources also reveal resentment within the PPP over allowing Barrister Chaudhry back into the party.
PPP leaders point towards the fact that he was sacked by Benazir as he had flouted her decision and worked against the party's interests during the AJK Council elections.
Secretary General Jahangir Badr, PPP's secretary general, had suspended Barrister Chaudhry's membership for supporting a rival candidate in the AJK Council elections.
The PPP's candidate had lost the polls despite having sufficient number of members in the legislative assembly.
Announcing formation of his own party in April 2006, Barrister Chaudhry had stated that the AJK people were fed up with the two-party system in the valley, adding he was forming the new party on the advice of “close aides”.
It is not clear what understanding the present PPP leadership was allowing Barrister Chaudhry back into the party's fold. Dawn
Talking to on condition of anonymity, a senior AJKPP official claimed that Barrister Sultan Mehmood has apologised for violating the party discipline in the past, adding that it paved way for his comeback. Despite repeated attempts, Barrister Chaudhry could not be contacted for his comments.
