PPP Central Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo said on Monday party’s provincial leadership was in favour of boycotting the by-election in NA-122 because of a ‘blatant violation’ of the election code of conduct by the PML-N and PTI candidates but the PPP high command insisted on contesting the poll regardless of the result. The PPP suffered a humiliating defeat in NA-122 and PP-147 as its candidates could bag around 800 and 700 votes. The PPP continues to be on the fast track of its own elimination with its top leadership showing no signs of activity to save the future of what used to be one of the most popular political parties in the country.The PPP has suffered one too many blows when senior party leaders were targeted in Karachi for corruption during the Ranger’s operation. From shock to outrage and finally pacification, the leaders of the PPP have remained low-key since the clean up operation began in the Sindh government. Around the same time in August Zardari decided to fade into the background and anointed his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as the new party leader. The areas in NA-122 in a sense then not only show how the PPP has failed to keep its original aura, they offer proof that Ms Bhutto’s influence has also withered away. So far as recent evidence goes, it is under Asif Zardari’s leadership that this popular choice has been dealt the most staggering blow.The corruption tag that has discredited the party has been there for long even if public awareness is much greater now. It is above all the so-called policy of reconciliation, translated into inaction and meekness, which has, sadly, reduced the party to a toothless entity.It was the people who kept the PPP alive, often in spite of the Bhuttos and Mr Zardari — especially so in Punjab where it was left to flourish organically without much organisation and local leadership. The people’s desire no longer seems to be there.
pk.shafaqna.com
