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PPP, CHITRAL AND A RAY OF HOPE
Like other parts of Pakistan the people of Chitral are also crazy
about politics. They are mainly attached to Pakistan peoples Party,
Jamey Islami, Muslim league (Q) and Jamiat ulama Islam. Since 1970s
Pakistan Peoples Party has emerged a popular mass party in Chitral
despite many political gaps. Chitral also became popular as the
second Larkana. The party has seen many ups and down since its
creation. One of the unfortunate faults with the PPP is lack of
efficient and energetic leadership in Chitral. It has also provided
a kind of platforms for the opportunists, who after gaining
political training and fame turned into the practice of horse
trading and floor crossing, as a common phenomenon through out
Pakistan.
The deficiency of competent and honest leadership was the major
reason behind this political gap that twice non Chitralis were
given tickets to contest elections for National Assembly seat. Here
the question arises why locals were not considered fit to contest
elections on PPP tickets? I think that competent and dedicated
political workers are being bypassed and only opportunists and
inefficient people come to the political horizon .Here the high
command of the party also stands liable because it can�t grant due
respect to the will of the people of Chitral. One such example was
the recent held general elections, in which the party split in
protest against the decision of the party central command when the
will of the party�s adherents were again ignored. As a result PPP
lost its NA and one PA seats. Here the voters exercised their
political rights and gave a tough and rationale challenge to the
party high command for not respecting their plea. The high command
should learn lesson from such political mistakes.
However Nature came to its help when Salim Khan won the PA seat and
finally became the provincial minister. This has provided a golden
opportunity for the party to reorganize its entity in Chitral for
its survival. Othewise its political future looks bleak and dark.
Mr. Salim Khan has all the potentialities and capabilities to
perform the important task of reforming and restructuring the party
on sound basis, provided he is being given ample timing and free
hand. Unluckily, he is always being besieged by the Jialas whether
it is Peshawar, Chitral or Garamchashma. They don�t give him space
enough even to take fresh breath, not to mentioning free
interactions with people. As a result majority of people fail to
convey their genuine issues to the minister. These Jialas take full
advantages of the simplicity and pleasant nature of the minister
for that he is well-known throughout the region.
Booni conference, attended by PPP central and provincial stalwarts,
furnished an important occasion to reflect about the political
future of the party including new membership As a student of
Political Science I have made this observation that not only
central party leadership is lazy and incompetent in Chitral but its
leadership at tehsil and ward levels is also weak and
disappointing. Consequently party loyalists are distancing
themselves from mainstream party values. The survival of PPP in
Chitral depends on two important things. First there is a need to
reorganize the party at grass root levels with the inclusion of
committed and efficient people as office bearers, here we solicit
the direct involvement of PPP co-chairman in this connection, and
secondly assist Salim Khan to work for the collective development
of Chitral instead of persuading their self interests. And for God
sake don�t compel him to involve in petty matters if we are sincere
to the soil of Chitral.
M. Amin
Garamchashma
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