President Zardari quits political office

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has quit the co-chairmanship position of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) giving its reins into the hands of young Bilawal who has been elected as the partyˈsPartron-in-Chief, local media reported on Saturday, IRNA reported.

Confirming the development, PPPˈs newly-elected Secretary-General SardarLatif Khan Khosa said that PPP has elected its new office bearers and it would now be registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Presently, the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) is registered with the ECP as a political party since 2002, and it is this party which is going to contest the coming elections.

Giving details about partyˈs intra-party elections, he said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been elected as Patron-in-Chief of the PPP and the office of chairman has been abolished. Though he would not say that president has quit the political office, but he confirmed that there is no place for a co-chairman in the new organisational chart.

He said Bilawal Bhutto would remain Patron-in-Chief till he attains the age of 25, and after that he would be chairman of the PPP.

Talking to media, Khosa further said he would file an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan on March 25 to establish his claim over the PPP vis-à-vis those of Ghinwa Bhutto and Nahid Khan who have approached the ECP to get their parties registered as PPP also seeking the electoral symbol of arrow.

The Supreme Court and Lahore High Court have already asked the president to shun political activities. A case regarding president’s dual office is still pending in the Lahore High Court for decision.

Following the intra-party polls, former Punjab Governor SardarLatif Khan Khosa has replaced Senator JehangirBadar as central Secretary General of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Similarly, former KPK Governor Barrister MasoodKausar has been elected as Central Secretary Information whereas AmjadAkhlaq has been elected as Secretary Finance.

R.S