PPP President’s London Visit Sparks Debate on Political Motives

Key Takeaways

President Asif Ali Zardari’s extended stay in London has raised questions about its political motives.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s meeting with the president and his recent calls for new provinces have fueled speculation.
PPP leaders met with Zardari in London, and the Sindh Assembly passed a resolution rejecting new provinces.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s prolonged stay in London has sparked debate over its political implications, particularly in light of recent discussions about the creation of new provinces. While some believe the visit is purely for a medical check-up, others view it as a strategic move to influence political dynamics.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who recently proposed the idea of new provinces, met with President Zardari during his London sojourn. This meeting has generated discussion about the president’s position and the potential political motives behind his trip.

Following his London visit, Mr Naqvi addressed a National Policy Dialogue at the University of Management and Technology. He clarified that his proposal for a ‘reset’ in the administrative system does not imply a change in government but rather a comprehensive review and restructuring to better serve citizens. He also called for a debate on granting provincial status to Islamabad, arguing that residents there do not receive a share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

The sequence of events, including gatherings of senior PPP leaders with Mr Zardari in London and the subsequent passage of a resolution by the Sindh Assembly rejecting the creation of new provinces, has led to speculation that the PPP’s position was discussed during the London meetings and that the Sindh Assembly resolution was adopted with the president’s consent.

The issue of President Zardari’s ‘Euro trip’ and his meetings with the interior minister and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar were also raised at a recent Foreign Office briefing. However, the Foreign Office spokesperson did not provide a direct response, instead referring the question to the Presidency.

President Zardari’s spokesperson, Murtaza Solangi, stated that he was unaware of the details of the president’s visit and that it was a private trip. PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari maintained that the president had travelled only for a medical check-up and that there was nothing political about the trip.

Another PPP source, however, confirmed that the president’s visit had reasons beyond his medical treatment. The source suggested that the PPP leaders met with Zardari to discuss broader political and administrative issues.

The PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, and Dr Asim Hussain, considered close confidants, were among those who met with the president during his stay in London. These meetings have added to the ongoing debate over the political dimensions of his visit.