The ‘rebel’ legislators, led by Malik Abbas Raan, gathered here Friday night and decided against attending the meeting, thus virtually parting ways with the PPP. One of the disgruntled MPAs, Dr, Akhtar Malik told TheNation that there was little chance of their remaining part of their mother party after this decision. He said current PPP leadership had brought the country on the verge of disaster and it would not be wise to go along with this party.
Malik Abbas Raan, the ‘ring’ leader of the group, told this scribe that a group of 10 legislators from across Punjab had decided to boycott Saturday’s meeting to be chaired by Mr Gilani. He, however, said they wanted to be part of the PPP till completion of constitutional tenure of the present assemblies while maintaining safe distance from the party.
Today’s meeting is taking place against the backdrop of some party legislators’ announcement that they were going to form a forward bloc in Punjab Assembly under the umbrella of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who has now joined PTI. The event is crucial as it would be at this meeting that PPP would come to know of its real strength in Punjab Assembly. Besides, those party MPAs who have made up their mind to join Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s camp, would also get exposed if they don’t turn up at Governor’s House today.
It may be noted here that only two PPP legislators from Multan, Dr Akhtar Malik and Malik Ghulam Abbas Raan have so far come out in the open against the party leadership. They also attended Shah Mahmood’s public rally at Ghotki last month when their leader announced to join the PTI.
The PPP has 108 members in Punjab Assembly and all have been sent invitations to attend the meeting. According to a PPP source, six party legislators, out of which two are females, could not be contacted when a legislator phoned them to inform about Saturday’s meeting.
When contacted, PPP’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader Shaukat Mahmood Basra expressed his confidence that around 100 MPAs would be attending the meeting. He said some legislators were out of country and a few others might not come due to illness. Basra said that only two party lawmakers who had announced to form forward bloc might not attend.
Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s party show, Governor Sardar Latif Khosa hosted a dinner in honour of the PPP legislators. Around 60 members arrived to dine with the governor, mostly belonging from far off districts, while those from adjoining districts of Lahore are expected to show up in the morning.
It has been learnt that the PM would announce Rs 50 million development package for each MPA in today’s meeting in a bid to keep the party intact.
