The apex court gave an interim order, by setting up a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which, analysts say, may have prompted Zardari to stay in the capital till the final verdict in the case. He has begun addressing public rallies in parts of KP and Punjab.
The PPP co-chairman focusing on 'electables', which the PPP insiders say would enable the party to remerge as a vibrant opposition party in both the KP and Punjab after the next general elections. Some political heavy-weights may announce that they are joining the party during his three-day visit to KP, sources added.
The sources also disclosed that a senior PPP leader from Sialkot Firdous Ashiq Awan, who was poised to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided not to take such a decision at the eleventh hour after she was assurance from Zardari that she would be accommodated on seats reserved for women even if she loses her seat in the general election.
On Saturday, Zardari left for Peshawar where he will stay for three days. The sources said that senior PPP leadership has decided to give a tough time to the PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) before the upcoming 2018 general elections. A senior party leader said that the capital is more convenient compared to Karachi to arrange meetings with the local leadership and discuss party matters. It also suits the party workers hailing from areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and willing to meet Zardari and other top PPP leadership.
When contacted, Senator Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for Asif Zardari, said that the former president's stay in the capital is a part of the party's mobilization programme.
"This is the reason he [Zardari] is here in Peshawar today [Saturday] on a three-day visit," he added. During his stay in Peshawar, Babar said that he will address social-cum-political functions. "Basically, it is to revitalize the party by reaching out to the people ahead of the next general elections," he added. To a question, Babar said that after his visit to Peshawar, he will return to Islamabad, and in the next three to four days, he will go to Lahore to take part in different political activities.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017