KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party on Friday suspended its Karachi division president Abdul Qadir Patel for violating party discipline by accusing in a speech party leaders of practising the “politics of compromise in the name of reconciliation”.

A senior PPP leader confirmed to Dawn that Mr Patel had been suspended by the general secretary of the party’s Sindh chapter, Senator Taj Haider, on the directives of the provincial president and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah after following a due process.

“A show-cause notice was served on Mr Patel on March 10 to explain his remarks within a week,” said PPP spokesman and the CM’s special assistant Waqar Mehdi. “However, he did not come up with any reply after which the party’s general secretary on the directives of the provincial president suspended him. He is no more PPP’s Karachi division president and party affairs in the city are now being looked after by senior vice president Sardar Khan.”

Also read: PPP rift: Pushed in, left out

Mr Patel had earlier this month spoken at a rally held to observe the 11th death anniversary of PPP leader Abdullah Murad in Malir and strongly criticised PPP leaders for compromising the party’s ideology and policy for their personal gains.

“It’s so unfortunate that we are here to mark the martyrdom of our beloved worker [Abdullah Murad] when his friends and killers are joining hands for their own interests,” he had said.

“The party has been handed over to people like Rehman Malik to ignore diehard and true workers. Even I was not picked for a Senate seat. Such compromises have not only disheartened workers but also wrecked the dreams of Sindh’s prosperity.”

While there is no word from the party about Mr Patel’s future after his suspension, sources close to the PPP leadership are sure that he would not resume his responsibilities as Karachi division president.

“It’s highly likely that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will name a senior party member as its new Karachi division president to replace Mr Patel. His restoration is now out of the question,” said one of the sources.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2015

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