Benazir calls key party meeting

Islamabad: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will decide on its presidential election strategy in view of the Supreme Court ruling on General Pervez Musharraf's dual offices, at a crucial meeting in London on October 3.

PPP Senator Sajjad Bokhari told Gulf News yesterday the final decision will be taken in this joint meeting of the central executive committee and the federal council to be attended by chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

"Only two options have been left for the party; whether to abstain from voting during the presidential election or resign from the assemblies, and it is a crucial juncture, so the party will decide taking into consideration supreme national interests," Bokhari added.

Changing scenario

"The political scenario is changing with every passing moment and the PPP has to consider its decision carefully, keeping in mind all options, including the resignation of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal from the NWFP and Balochistan assemblies and the nomination of Makhdoom Amin Fahim for president.

Meanwhile, a party insider told this correspondent that most of the party's leaders had suggested in the last executive meeting the party should abstain during the presidential elections instead of resigning from the assemblies.

"But some senior party members believe that since the government had not shown any seriousness in accepting the PPP's proposals, the party should decide between abstaining or resigning independently," the source added. "The senior leaders believe that the court decision meant it was now up to the political parties to start a movement against the dictatorship," he said.

Options

A senior member of the executive, requesting anonymity, said if the party decided that its members will resign from the assemblies, Fahim would not contest the presidential election. He said the party had already called central and provincial parliamentary party meetings on October 5 and would inform them on whether they should abstain from voting or resign from the assemblies.

Senator Bokhari said the party would also discuss the chances of cooperation with the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and a final decision would be taken on whether the alliance members would be taken into confidence.

When contacted, party's Punjab information secretary Farzana Raja confirmed the report and said the party would move a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court challenging the nomination of Musharraf.