PPP decides to give ‘belligerent response’ to show cause notice

According to party sources, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto has directed senior leaders of the party including Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Farhatullah Babar, Nayyar Bukhari to prepare a response to the show-cause notice issued by opposition’s alliance.

The reply draft will be sent to former president Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto for final approval, sources revealed adding that PPP will respond to the show cause notice in an ‘aggressive’ rather ‘conciliatory manner’.

The sources added that PPP will target Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PDM policies in its response to the show cause notice.

PPP has also decided to convene an immediate meeting of its Central Executive Committee (CEC) after the show-cause notice was issued.

Earlier yesterday, Pakistan Democratic Movement had served show-causes notices to two of its constituent parties –the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) –over alleged violation of PDM’s consensus decision and principles.

The notices, approved by PDM chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman and sent by Secretary-General PDM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, demand an explanation from both parties within a week for seeking support from the BAP – a part of the ruling coalition – for securing the position of Opposition Leader in Senate for PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani.

PPP notice is sent to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari whereas ANP notice is issued to party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan.

The notification read that PPP and ANP's move has harmed the alliance and movement of PDM.

It is pertinent to mention here that the two main opposition parties — the PPP and the PML-N — were at loggerheads over the matter of Opposition leader’s slot in senate.

Reportedly, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders had decided that the Senate chairman would be from the PPP, deputy chairman from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and the Opposition leader’s slot would go to PML-N.

However, PPP avoided the consensus understanding and went ahead to get the slot of the Opposition Leader in Upper House by getting support of some members of the BAP party, which is part of the government. The ANP stood by the PPP.