PPP grants Zardari the authority to negotiate regarding election matters

Zardari appears to be in the driving seat

PPP throws weight behind co-chairman to resolve issues in CEC meeting

The Pakistan Peoples Party has thrown its weight behind Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, leaving little doubt about whose opinion prevailed within the party, two PPP leaders familiar with the outcome of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting revealed.

Apparently dissatisfied with the response it has received regarding complaints about an ‘unlevel’ playing field, the PPP central executive committee has empowered former president Asif Ali Zardari to raise the issue with all quarters concerned and demand that the Election Commission immediately announce the election schedule.

“It is not possible here to repeat all the reservations expressed by PPP’s representatives from all over Pakistan regarding the level playing field [because] there is a context of every opinion. We presented these reservations to president Zardari to address them,” said party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during a press conference at the conclusion of the two-day CEC meeting on Friday.

A participant of the CEC meeting told that the chairman meant that Mr Zardari would raise the issue with the PML-N and other quarters concerned on the inclusion of pro-N League people in the cabinet, as well as certain policies and projects being undertaken by the caretaker governments both at federal and Punjab level.

Responding to a question, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that the PPP is not facing difficulty or oppression. “We have seldom witnessed a level playing field in elections, but I am hopeful. I have trust in my team. There is only one political party, which is not afraid of going to the people and that is the PPP.

“I can tell the people about my performance as the foreign minister, my role during floods and then what I did for the FATF issue. We are ready to tell the people about our performance in BISP. We are ready and not disappointed at all. Our stance on elections is well-known to everyone.”