Regime tried to lure Fahim confirms PPP

The Pakistan People's Party, at war with the government, confirmed yesterday that the military, now ruling the country, had tried to lure one of its principal leaders, Makhdoom Amin Fahim with offers of prime ministership and after failing to do so, the regime had started a psychological warfare to defame the party.

"There is a much bigger game plan," the party said "and the exhibition of artefacts in Islamabad or harassment of Asif Zardari in jail were all part of a programme to punish the party for its refusal to fall in the trap".

The regime has realised that PPP and its leader Benazir Bhutto would be its principal challenger in the elections, scheduled for next year, the party said.

"This is why it is desperate about neutralising this challenge," a party official said. It explained that the regime's attempts to force Bhutto to quit politics were fourfold.

"First, to ill-treat her husband Senator Zardari so that he would pressure her to quit her politics. Second, to cause mental torture through imprisonment and harassment of the frail and elderly father-in-law Hakim Ali Zardari. The third was to arrest and force into exile key party stalwarts so that they would press for the chairperson to abdicate. The fourth was to tempt vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim with hints of premiership," the PPP official charged.

The PPP said it believes the renewed attack on the party leaders stems from the military's disillusionment with the 'Humkhayal' (like-minded) group within the military.

Initially, the military was planning to revive the assemblies but lost confidence in the abilities of the Humkhayals, including Mian Azhar and Chaudhry Shujaat to "deliver the goods."

The assemblies were then dissolved although their term did not expire until March 2002.

Party officials quoted sources as saying that the military regime is now concerned at the poor showing of the like-minded group of the Pakistan Muslim League in the recent local elections.

Insiders have told the PPP that the Humkhayals are divided amongst themselves and behind close doors Chaudarys of Gujrat and Ejaz-ul-Haq are lobbying hard to topple the Azhar presidency . It said that while "ISI gave him (Azhar) a chance, MI simply lost a hope on him".

The source said that there is every likelihood "a new player will be found to fill his shoes". He also said that if the like-minded are unable to demonstrate internal unity, then the military regime will start reviving its other horses. These include NWFP leader Ajmal Khattak.