LAHORE: PPP leaders Naheed Khan and Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi have reiterated their commitment to the “party of Benazir Bhutto” and denied forming any group within the party.

LAHORE: PPP leaders Naheed Khan and Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi have reiterated their commitment to the “party of Benazir Bhutto” and denied forming any group within the party.

Talking to our sources, Naheed and Safdar, who were quite close to slain PPP chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, said that the rumours about waging a revolt or forming a new party or group were spread by elements who wanted to divide the party.

“We are associated with the party left by Benazir Bhutto at the time of her assassination on December 27, 2007,” they said. Naheed Khan said the PPP is an eyesore to anti-democratic forces that conspired against the party because of its popularity among masses.

She said such elements were trying to give an impression that “we are going to form a new party or a group from the PPP which is totally out of question”. However, they said they were concerned about the way the party was being run.

To a question about their contacts with non-party members to garner support against the incumbent leadership, the couple denied making any contact, saying their sole intention was to see the PPP become stronger.

Naheed said she wanted her party to gain majority in elections and come to power every time as it was the party of the public that had always worked for the people of the country.Dispelling the impression of revolt against the party leadership, Naheed and Safdar said they only raised five important points after observing a sense of uncertainly prevailing among party workers after the loss of their beloved leader.

They said they wanted a probe into the assassination of Benazir as delay in it was frustrating the party workers. They said they also wanted implementation of the Charter of Democracy in letter and spirit which was a sacred document. They said the gulf between those sitting in power corridors should be bridged. They said judiciary should be restored as was envisioned by Benazir Bhutto.

They said they had had a clear conscience. Naheed Khan said the Shaheed leader was the life and soul of party workers and she sacrificed her life among them (party workers). She said the gap between party ministers and workers had created a sense of uncertainty among party stalwarts and it needed to be filled.

They said some important office bearers, including Sajida Mir, Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Akram Shah etc were removed from offices without prior notice. They said it was not right to think that the party co-chairman was behind the decisions and as those close to him were responsible.

“We don’t think that that the party co-chairman could make decisions at this level. It seems people around him are misguiding him,” they said. She paid tribute to PPP MPA Sajida Mir, saying she represented true worker class of the party and her stature as a committed party worker had increased after this sacrifice. She said Sajida had stood with the party in hard times.

End.