PPP is dead with Benazir, says former minister

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Monday, April 12, 2010
News Desk

RAWALPINDI: A former federal minister for industries in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto government, Raja Shahid Zafar, has refused to accept the present set-up as the PPP government, saying that the party is dead with the killing of Benazir Bhutto.

Most of those who are part of the government have neither been in the PPP nor have any interest in the country. The remaining small minority is there because of corruption or hypocrisy, he said while taking part in Geo News programme “Meray Mutabiq”.

The remnants of Gen Ziaul Haq and Gen Pervez Musharraf are also part of the present PPP government. Asif Ali Zardari has had never such relations with the PPP as Bhuttos had. Senior leaders, like Raza Rabbani, have no say in the party.

Party workers are confused as they see there exists no party or as such any government. Raja Shahid Zafar, while talking to Dr Shahid Masood in his programme ‘Aap Ke Mutabiq’, appreciated the policy of Prime Minister Gilani of taking along former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif. He warned the government of severe consequences in case Gilani took crucial decisions after getting powers under the 18th Amendment restored.

Senior analyst Salim Bokhari was of the view that 90% of those in the government or part of the PPP hierarchy had no roots in the party nor enjoyed confidence of party workers. A mafia has laid a siege and surrounded President Asif Ali Zardari and disfigured the party’s face.

He was sure that Zardari-Gilani honeymoon would be short-lived. However, Tariq Butt insisted that it would be difficult for Zardari to remove Gilani. Gilani was confident enough while embarking on the US visit, Tariq maintained.