Zardari calls party meeting in London

LONDON: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has called a meeting of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) here today (Monday).

PPP sources have confirmed to The News that “current political situation in Pakistan, attacks on PPP from many fronts, Birmingham PPP rally cancellation, situation in Sindh, rise of ISIS and abusive language used by some politicians against the party leadership will come under discussion in the meeting”.

The meeting will be attended by Syed Khursheed Shah, Dr Asim Hussain, Rehman Malik, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Chaudhary Majeed, Chaudhary Yaseen and others. It is not yet clear if Bilawal Zardari will be part of the meeting.

“The PPP leadership may formally launch protest with the West Midlands police for cancelling the PPP rally at the last minute instead of providing security to Bilawal. More than 5,000 people reached Birmingham for the rally and were disappointed when it was cancelled,” said the source.

Asif Ali Zardari has extended his stay for a week in London and there is a chance that he may meet the MQM leadership. Dr Asim Hussain has already made contact with MQM leader Altaf Hussain and the two sides may meet to sort out their differences.

Zardari will also address a press conference on Monday.

Pakistani Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is also reaching here on Monday from Canada. He is scheduled to address a workers’ convention and meet his European supporters before leaving for Pakistan after two days.

Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain is also in London and sources say that Dr Qadri may meet him. PML-Q has developed serious differences with Dr Qadri after the PAT leadership decided to end their Dherna in Islamabad.