The PPP Press Statement That Backfired
PPP top brass was totally shell shocked
Dunya News Report (Shahzad Badar)
PPP media bosses were in an utter state of confusion just like its senators and MNA’s who were finding it difficult if not impossible to defend the controversial statement of PPP co-chairperson Asif Zardari issued from a PPP source.
Former president Asif Zardari later disowned the statement which was reported by all the newspapers and debated on all the TV channels. The PPP media cell stayed calm and never bothered to issue a clarification. It was reported that PPP senator Ghani had later rectified the statement late night before reissuing it minus the comments on the Chief’s extension/retirement.
PPP top brass was totally shell shocked knowing little how to defend Zardari’s abrupt U turn. Asif Zardari in the controversial press statement was favoring the extension of the army chief in a very obsequious way. Zardari’s statement was considered by most of the political analysts as non diplomatic, crude and objectionable.
The next day after the statement had spread enough ridicule against the PPP a PPP MPA from the Punjab Assembly decided to earn more embarrassment for the party by presenting a resolution in the Punjab Assembly praising the army chief and requesting the government to extend the chief’s services.
The statement was reported to have originated from a senior PPP source belonging to the Zardari family. Zardari’s recent statement which he later disowned many hours after it was debated on the TV channels was shocking and sounded very gauche as previously he had spewed out great venom against the army.
PPP’s Secretary Information Qamar Zaman Kaira had nothing much to say except that “an inquiry into the origins of Zardari’s controversial statement would be held and the matter would be investigated”.
The PPP has always been uncomfortable with the military establishment and the recent crude attempt to mend ways with the army testifies to the successful operation being launched by the Rangers in Karachi.
PPP’s has a close relation with corruption and crime and most of its previous government’s were dismissed on corruption charges.
In 2010 Pakistan s army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, has handed a list of corrupt or allegedly incompetent ministers to PresidentAsif Zardari demanding their removal. Kayani later did not press his demands as he opted for an extension which the PPP was glad to offer.
The PPP has vociferously proclaimed that its mandate in Sindh was being violated and had even tried to curtail the Rangers powers by passing a resolution in the Sindh Assembly. With the Rangers noose tightening against politicians involved in corruption, terrorism and crime the PPP thought it wise to improve its relations with the army.
Unlike General Kayani the present army chief General Raheel Sharif has categorically stated that he is not interested in any service extension and would like to retire and uphold the prestige of his institution.
The PPP tried to break the ice and restore its relations with the army but as the PPP press statement bounced back with negative vibes, the PPP leaders decided to disown the reconciliatory messages and go for damage control.
The PPP statement calls General Raheel Sharif’s decision to refuse an extension in service as ‘premature’, which they think “could turn Pakistanis’ hopes into despair and jeopardize the fight against terrorism”.
Zardari in 2015 gave a very toxic speech against the army and since then has not returned to the country. The recent press statement which the PPP is still confused about contradicts all his earlier statement for which the PPP leaders were very apologetic. END
