‘Clash’ between Asif, Fahim averted

[mujahideen]

‘Clash’ between Asif, Fahim averted

By Ashraf Mumtaz

LAHORE, March 8: A meeting of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, hurriedly called by its president Makhdoom Amin Fahim for Sunday, was called off on Saturday reportedly after some PPP leaders intervened to ‘avert a political clash’ between the ARD chief and the PPP co-chairman.

“Thank God, we have averted an imminent political clash between Mr Fahim and Mr Zardari,” said an ARD leader associated with the PPP.

“Had the meeting been held, the participants would have supported Mr Fahim’s candidature for the office of prime minister, as a result of which the gulf between the ARD leader and Mr Zardari would have widened,” he remarked.

He said some PPP leaders, especially those belonging to Sindh, had played an important role in resolving the situation amicably.

The PPP is a component of the ARD. However, some reports had quoted Mr Zardari as saying that his party had nothing to do with Sunday’s meeting.

Another ARD leader said that Mr Fahim was not competent to call the session. He recalled that Mr Fahim had stepped down as the coalition’s chairman after Ms Benazir Bhutto’s return to the country.

Mr Fahim could not call a meeting without consulting the secretary-general. The secretary-general, he claimed, was not even aware of the meeting.

Yet another leader said it was the PPP’s prerogative, not the ARD’s, to select its candidate for the prime minister’s office.

‘Clash’ between Asif, Fahim averted -DAWN - Top Stories; March 09, 2008

 

[fatman17]

‘Clash’ between Asif, Fahim averted

By Ashraf Mumtaz

LAHORE, March 8: A meeting of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, hurriedly called by its president Makhdoom Amin Fahim for Sunday, was called off on Saturday reportedly after some PPP leaders intervened to ‘avert a political clash’ between the ARD chief and the PPP co-chairman.

“Thank God, we have averted an imminent political clash between Mr Fahim and Mr Zardari,” said an ARD leader associated with the PPP.

“Had the meeting been held, the participants would have supported Mr Fahim’s candidature for the office of prime minister, as a result of which the gulf between the ARD leader and Mr Zardari would have widened,” he remarked.

He said some PPP leaders, especially those belonging to Sindh, had played an important role in resolving the situation amicably.

The PPP is a component of the ARD. However, some reports had quoted Mr Zardari as saying that his party had nothing to do with Sunday’s meeting.

Another ARD leader said that Mr Fahim was not competent to call the session. He recalled that Mr Fahim had stepped down as the coalition’s chairman after Ms Benazir Bhutto’s return to the country.

Mr Fahim could not call a meeting without consulting the secretary-general. The secretary-general, he claimed, was not even aware of the meeting.

Yet another leader said it was the PPP’s prerogative, not the ARD’s, to select its candidate for the prime minister’s office.

‘Clash’ between Asif, Fahim averted -DAWN - Top Stories; March 09, 2008

keep watching and reading - the fun is just beginning. Zardari is making a power play to get rid of all resistence within the PPP and shamefully all the leaders of PPP are towing the line.

 

[mujahideen]

keep watching and reading - the fun is just beginning. Zardari is making a power play to get rid of all resistence within the PPP and shamefully all the leaders of PPP are towing the line.

Zardari wants to get rid of all those who are more powerful then him. Fahim is a well respected and his word means more to the people of Pakistan then the words of Zardari, that is why he wants to clear him out of his way. I personally think Zardari wants to become Prime Minister and Fahim is the only one in his way. I see the PPP spliting in three peices and I guess Bilawal will get Zardari's peice.

 

[mujahideen]

Amin vows to create no rifts in PPP

ISLAMABAD: Senior leader of the PPP and Chairman PPP-P Makhdom Amin Fahim says he was not included by the party Co-Chairman Asif ALi Zardari that met with the PML-N leadership in Murree. Talking to Geo News, he questioned, "Who told Asif Ali Zardari that I had personal engagements and could not attend the meeting with the PML-N leadership." Makdoom Amin Fahim said that he could not forcefully attended that crucial meeting between allied parties once his name was not included in the party members list that met Nawaz Sharif at his residence in Murree. Earlier, replying to question about Makhdoom Amin Fahim's absence in the meeting Asif Ali Zardari said, "This meeting is too small for him to attend and he has some personal engagements that is why he could not attend the meeting." Some party sources, however, say that the differences are widening between the two over the issue of nomination for the slot of Prime Minister, as Makhdoom wants to lead the future cabinet. Amin Fahim said he wants to see his party united and the party can nominate anyone, adding he would not do anything that could lead to rifts in the party and it is incumbent upon the party leadership to keep the party united.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Rift widens over premiership

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, March 9: The Sunday’s landmark summit between the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-N in Murree brought the two arch rivals of the past close to the formation of a coalition government but, at the same time, exposed a rift in the PPP over the nomination of a candidate for the office of the prime minister.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari claimed at a news conference in Bhurban that Makhdoom Amin Fahim could not attend the meeting owing to his pre-occupation. But Mr Fahim told reporters in Islamabad that he had not been invited and that he had no engagements in the capital to stop him from going to Murree.

A visibly-disappointed Mr Fahim also hinted that he was no more a candidate for the premiership. “I was alone trying to save my skin from the curse of the premiership, but now the whole party is with me in saving me from this curse,” he said, apparently referring to the party’s possible decision against nominating him for the office of the prime minister.

“I am a faqeer,” remarked the Makhdoom of Hala, who is custodian of one of the most revered religious ‘Gaddi’ in Sindh. “I do not go for prayers without Azan,” he said when his comments were sought on the remarks of Mr Zardari that he had been invited by the party leadership for talks with the PML-N. He said he had spent the whole day in his Islamabad residence with no engagement.

Mr Fahim, however, said that he did not want a split in the party and wanted to see it ‘intact’. He claimed that a majority of the people of Pakistan was with him, but the decision to nominate the party’s prime minister would be made by its leader.

The PPP, which emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly after Feb 18 elections, is still undecided about its candidate for the premiership. Sources attributed the delay to Mr Zardari’s reluctance to nominate Mr Fahim.

PPP office-bearers, who have been denying reports that there was a rift in the party on any issue, on Sunday admitted that the gulf between Mr Zardari and Mr Fahim had widened and the two had not been on talking terms for a few days.

A PPP leader requesting anonymity told Dawn that Mr Zardari was claiming that Mr Fahim had been invited, but the latter was denying and obviously one of them was “lying” and this did not serve the interest of the party. He was of the view that at least Mr Zardari should have taken Mr Fahim with him to Murree even if the party had decided not to nominate him for the post of the prime minister.

Meanwhile, another contender for the office of the prime minister, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, was in an upbeat mood on Sunday. He confirmed to Dawn that his name was doing the rounds in party circles as the country’s next prime minister. He said Mr Fahim had himself stated that he was not in the race for the office.

When asked if the decision to sideline Mr Fahim could damage the party and even cause a break-up, he said he did not think so. When asked that some party leaders believed that Mr Zardari had been reluctant to nominate Mr Fahim because he (Mr Zardari) himself was a contender for the office of the prime minister, he said the party co-chairman had at least six times stated that he was not willing to become the prime minister.

Political experts believe that if the decision to nominate a prime minister is delayed till March 12 when re-polling in some of the polling stations will be held in Shikarpur (NA-202) and if PPP senior leader Aftab Shaaban Mirani emerges victorious, then Chaudhry Mukhtar can also become a dark horse in the race.

Rift widens over premiership -DAWN - Top Stories; March 10, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

Kh Asif alleges Amin held meeting with president on Dec.27

LAHORE: Pakistan Musliim League (PML-N) leader Khawja Asif said PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was busy with a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf on the day Benazir Bhutto was martyred on December 27.

Khawja Asif said, ‘We had concerns over his meetings, which we expressed to the PPP leaders.

He said they apprised Asif Ali Zardari of PML-N concerns over these meetings between Amin Fahim and Pervez Musharraf.

Kh Asif said his party has reservations over these meetings and therefore, N-League objected to Amin Fahim being inducted as premier.

Kh Asif alleges Amin held meeting with president on Dec.27

 

[mujahideen]

Kh Asif’s statement based on ill will: Amin Fahim

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that the statement of Khawja Asif is based on ill will and that a statement from such a responsible person does not absolutely add up.

Voicing strong reaction at the statement of Khawja Asif, Amin Fahim said he wanted to convey his protest directly to Nawaz Sharif; but, he was not available on phone, after which, he phoned Shahbaz Sharif and protested to him that it is an attempt to defame him.

Amin Fahim said his meetings with President Pervez Musharraf were in the knowledge of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, and at their bidding, he held these meetings.

It should be mentioned that Khawja Asif alleged that Makhdoom Amin Fahim was busy with a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf on the day Benazir Bhutto was martyred.

Kh Asif’s statement based on ill will: Amin Fahim

 

[mujahideen]

'I am not a guest star'

NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD - Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that he is President of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and “not a guest star for a special appearance.”
He was reacting to a statement of PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman in which she had said that a senior party leader was assigned to extend invitation to Amin Fahim, Senior Vice Chairman of PPP, to the meeting of PPP and PML-N stalwarts at Bhurban. Fahim said that Sherry should have collected information from the party and the Election Commission of Pakistan before giving any details to the media.
He said that his name was not included in the PPP delegation that held talks in Murree.
“There are no differences over the nomination of the candidate for the office of the Prime Minister and the PPP has not yet finalized any name for the slot,” Fahim said.
However, he expressed the hope that the decision in this regard would be taken very soon after consensus.
The PPP leader said that Benazir Bhutto had also offered him some office without any demand made by him and said that he refused all the offers as he was never after any political position.
He said that he was contacted several times to accept the slot of the Prime Minister in the past but every time he refused to accept it.
“I am working for strengthening of the PPP as it is my first priority,” Fahim added.
He said that the PPP was the largest federal party of Pakistan and its roots exist in all the provinces.
Earlier, PPP Central Information Secretary Sherray Rehman told the media that Zardari had no differences with Fahim.
She said that Zardari had asked a senior party leader to inform Fahim for participation in the Murree meeting. But he was not informed about it, she said.
“There is no division in the party. Six-point declaration which has been signed between the PPP and the PML-N is first step towards Charter of Democracy (COD),” Sherry said.
She said that the PPP would announce its Leader of House after the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
APP adds: Amin Fahim expressed his firm resolve to put his energies together for strengthening the party in any capacity.
Amin Fahim said he would extend full cooperation to the party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari in maintaining unity in party ranks and moving it forward.
Majority of the people of Pakistan want him to become the prime minister: “But I will not say even a single word until my party takes a decision. “I am however grateful to the people of Pakistan”.
Talking to a private TV channel, he said the whole party assisted him in achieving the goal (to save himself from PM’s slot).
He had already saved himself from this hardship several times.
Now the whole party joins to save him from this hardship, he added.
He said he would remain loyal to party and never even think about leaving the party as he was more than convinced that party should remain united.
He said he was not invited to attend the Murree meeting and he had no personal engagement.
“I will always work for the party, as it is my greatest priority”, he added.
Makhdoom also stated, that a final decision would be made by the Central Executive Committee and our Quaid, Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
However, the PPP is the party of people and it will try to solve all issues with the cooperation of the people, he said.
Fahim said that he had been contacted several times for the premiership in the past but every time he refused to accept. He added he doesn’t want to divide the party.
He said: “PPP is still the largest political party in the country and every member has his own importance”.
Replying to a question he said: “I have no tussle with Ch Ahmad Mukhtar and there is no challenge to the integrity of the party.”
He added the process is going on and as soon as the decision is taken, it would be made public. “I don’t accept any other post,” he said.

The Nation

 

[Interceptor]

keep watching and reading - the fun is just beginning. Zardari is making a power play to get rid of all resistence within the PPP and shamefully all the leaders of PPP are towing the line.

Are you on crack? The PPP isn't telling who the PM is because the establishment may place road blocks for it, therefore it the next PM will be announced when the government is going to call the elected parliamentarians for oath taking.

 

[Interceptor]

Zardari wants to get rid of all those who are more powerful then him. Fahim is a well respected and his word means more to the people of Pakistan then the words of Zardari, that is why he wants to clear him out of his way. I personally think Zardari wants to become Prime Minister and Fahim is the only one in his way. I see the PPP spliting in three peices and I guess Bilawal will get Zardari's peice.

Name a few please tell us who they are.

 

[mujahideen]

Name a few please tell us who they are.

Come one man everyone knows that their is a real split in the PPP right now.
The PPP will split in three peices. One peice will be led by Zardari and we all know his repution. The other peice will be mostly made up of people from Punjab and the thrid piece Fahim. Now it is really unfortuanate that ethnicity must come into play.
I personally think Fahim should be made Prime Minister. I think he is probably the most experienced politician Pakistan has.

 

[mujahideen]

Are you on crack? The PPP isn't telling who the PM is because the establishment may place road blocks for it, therefore it the next PM will be announced when the government is going to call the elected parliamentarians for oath taking.

Locks can be put on the new Prime Minister's house at any time. Before he goes and takes oath, people and the "establishment" will already know who the candidate. But I personally dont think President Musharraf will be the towering figure we have seen in the past. He is weak right now, he is wounded, he must deal with a hostile Parliament. As far as the establichment is concerned, you must surely be refering to the Army. I personally think General Kiyani will keep the army as far away from politics as possible. I think even if he has to take control it is going to be for a little while, because quite frankly the people dont want the Army anywhere near the political scene. Another thing that the establishment knows and will exploit is to its full extend is the difference in opinion in the new coalition. I mean PPP and the PML-N have totally different ideologies, which if needed will be exploited. And even if the establishment doesn't get involved, this new government is bound to fall within the next two years.

 

[Interceptor]

Come one man everyone knows that their is a real split in the PPP right now.
The PPP will split in three peices. One peice will be led by Zardari and we all know his repution. The other peice will be mostly made up of people from Punjab and the thrid piece Fahim. Now it is really unfortuanate that ethnicity must come into play.
I personally think Fahim should be made Prime Minister. I think he is probably the most experienced politician Pakistan has.

You sound like Pervez Elahi he also said PPP wont win any seats look look they are the Largest Party whooo. Please you have got no wieght in your words, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed died and yet his legacy and Party still remains and now his daughter Benazir Bhutto Shaheed has left us and PPP will still remain, while these fake PML (Pakistan Muslim League) always break and run and you can quote me on this the PML-Q will be no more they will break in a thousand pieces watch this happen days. The real PML went in the grave of Jinnah.

 

[mujahideen]

You sound like Pervez Elahi he also said PPP wont win any seats look look they are the Largest Party whooo. Please you have got no wieght in your words, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaheed died and yet his legacy and Party still remains and now his daughter Benazir Bhutto Shaheed has left us and PPP will still remain, while these fake PML (Pakistan Muslim League) always break and run and you can quote me on this the PML-Q will be no more they will break in a thousand pieces watch this happen days. The real PML went in the grave of Jinnah.

First of all I dont mean to sound like Pervez Elahi. I may be Pro-Musharraf but at the same time I realize the people around him are no good and this guy is one of them. This guy three years ago supported Prime Minister Shukat Aziz and now him and his cousin are calling for the ex-Prime Minister to be charged with treason, they accuse him of destorying the economy. Now what he said all politicians say, and if you look at some of my previous posts before the elections I said on many occassions that the PPP will emerga as the largest party. Pakistani politics is very weird, just six months ago we were talking about a joint PPP and PML-Q government as part of the deal sponsored by Washington. Politics is very weird, you have freinds one second and the next your enemies. One man you know very close is Ghulam Mustafa Khar, the former Punjab Chief Minister. He was an active PPP member and when the military ousted the PPP government in the 70s he was a big supported of that move. Then he came back into the PPP and now has left it. The PPP and the PML-N were trying to destroy eachother in the 90s but today they are in a coalition. I personally think the PML-Q is they stay together will benefit in the next elections. This new government is going to be too busy with politics and nothing is going to get done, which the PML-Q will try to exploit. I think they might even merge with the PML-N.

 

[EagleEyes]

This is going to be fun. Interceptor.. lets just say there IS a division, which seems more likely. Are you going to be loyal to the Zulfiqars or Amin Fahim?

There is no Bhutto in Zardari!