KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. Photo: File
LAHORE:
Senior PPP leaders expressed deep disappointment over Governor KP Faisal Kareem Kundi’s attempt to obstruct outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation process, warning that such undemocratic maneuvers – in pursuit of “establishment-driven objectives” – were damaging the party’s credibility.
“We were once seen as the flag bearers of democracy in Pakistan, but today we are seen as just another piece on the establishment’s chessboard,” said a senior party figure on condition of anonymity.
He pointed out that Governor Kundi initially stalled the process by objecting to a “computerized resignation” and when Gandapur submitted a handwritten letter to avoid further complications, “there was the issue of two resignation letters and then questionable signatures”.
“If this was not enough, the governor then used the excuse of his unavailability and non-working days,” he added.
“We were once taken to be the custodians of law and human rights and for us to make such a mockery of it was a soul-wrenching experience for those who have seen Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s days in the party,” he remarked.
He said that even within internal meetings, party members joked about the “bizarre episode”, although privately many worried about how such antics made the party appear to its constituents. “Governor Kundi trying to stop the resignation was nothing out of the ordinary but the crude and almost juvenile way it was done made the whole party lose face,” he said.
“We understand that the party was only following lines given by the grand director of this grand reality show that this dispensation is,” he continued, “but before doing so, the party should have at least done its homework on the tall and, in hindsight, false claims to topple the PTI government.”
Another relatively junior party leader, while acknowledging internal turmoil, offered a more pragmatic view. “The reality remains that constitutional law and human rights are now the subject of the party’s manifesto. In reality, there are other considerations,” he said.
He added that the party did not want to fall out of favor with the establishment. “There is a lot expected to go in our favour,” he claimed, suggesting that the PPP was “on the verge of forming a government in AJK”.
“This foolish action by the governor of KP could have reflected badly on the party, but the benefits of remaining in good books far outweighed the fleeting stigma of our current decision-making.”
Senior party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, speaking to The Express Pakinomist, admitted that “the oath controversy was in bad taste and ideally it should not have happened”.
