‘Clash’ between Asif, Fahim averted

[mujahideen]

Power politics testing 37-year-old Fahim-Baig friendship

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: The dwindling fortunes of PPP veteran Makhdoom Amin Fahim may cause another casualty as power politics is ruthless and heartless. While Amin Fahim himself has staked his all, his 37-year-old friend Senator Enver Baig has to decide whether he wants friendship with Fahim or a share in power.

Baig faces political elimination from the national scene, in case he†prefers friendship over politics. This question has arisen after one by one all the self-proclaimed diehard friends of Amin Fahim from Sindh and Punjab, have quietly left his camp in the hope of getting something, a ministry, chairmen of a standing committee or become a parliamentary secretary.

Interestingly, not many Fahim loyalists are left in the ranks of PPP except probably Senator Baig. It is just a matter of time when he may also swing. The start of this three-decade old friendship Amin Fahim-Enver Baig was so exciting they both named their newly born sons Najeeb, one becoming Najeeb Baig and the other Makhdoom Najeeb, to show their passion for each other. They remained steadfast and are still so, but power politics has come in their way.

When Amin Fahim was announced candidate for the slot of PM in Naudero by Asif Zardari, he became an immediate darling within the ranks of PPP. He remained the candidate of the party for the top slot only until the elections. The first major sign of displeasure in the Zardari camp surfaced when Amin Fahim was given extraordinary treatment by foreign diplomats, courtesy Enver Baig who is chairman of Foreign Liaison committee. An alarmed Asif Zardari immediately reduced the role of Enver Baig in interacting with foreign diplomats to stop him from making Amin Fahim available to the diplomats. Even, the USA ambassador visited the house of Enver Baig to hold a meeting with Amin Fahim. Finally, Asif Zardari ran out of patience and one fine morning Amin Fahim learnt about his fall from the grace as a result of intriguing politics inside the boundary wall of the Zardari House.

As, PPP MPs came to know about the changing designs of Zardari to bring someone else in place of Fahim, majority of the friends of Amin Fahim quietly switched their sides in line with time-tested formula that there are no permanent bedfellows in politics. Till last week, certain elements in the PPP were still backing the nomination of Amin Fahim in case Zardari refuses to become the PM. But, now they have also stopped talking about Amin Fahim any more. Ahmed Mukhtar is possibly the only stalwart in the whole PPP, who openly claims that Amin Fahim would soon be ditched by his only left friend Baig. Ahmed made these remarks in the parliament cafeteria where he was chatting with a group of journalists on the possibility of Amin Fahim getting the PM slot. He was of the view that the only man who was still backing Amin Fahim was his old friend Enver Baig. But, he predicted Enver Baig would leave him soon.

As things stand today, Mukhtar is an insider in the power circle. His tall claim that soon the lonely friend of Amin Fahim would ditch him has to be taken seriously. Talking to The News, Enver Baig wondered how someone could make such a big claim on his behalf. "Listen, I was, I am and will always be a friend of Amin Fahim till my last breath. I won't leave Amin Fahim whether I get some position or reward in the PPP government or not. We are friends since 1970 and I cannot leave him at this critical time of his political life."

Baig said he had been loyal to Benazir Bhutto, PPP and now even to the new party chief Asif Zardari but his friendship with Amin Fahim would not be affected because of his loyalty to the party. "Friendship can't be sacrificed for some immediate gains. I am proud of my friendship with Amin Fahim," he remarked. When told that he was showing his loyalty to Amin Fahim simply because he had ensured a party ticket for senate in 2003, Baig replied Benazir Bhutto had spotted him and she gave him the ticket.

Power politics testing 37-year-old Fahim-Baig friendship

 

[mujahideen]

Amin Fahim suggests Zardari to become PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians President Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that he will fully support if Asif Ali Zardari wanted to become Prime Minister.

Talking to media persons here after having one-on-one meeting with PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari he said the meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere.

He said that besides other issues they also discussed the nomination of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

When asked he would support if some one else was nominated for the slot of Prime Ministership, Makhdoom Fahim said that he had suggested to Asif Ali Zardari to become Prime Minister.

“Asif Zardari will think about it and if he wants to become Prime Minister I will fully support him”, Amin Fahim said. He said there would be another meeting in this regard on Tuesday.

Amin Fahim suggests Zardari to become PM

 

[mujahideen]

Zardari fails to tame Fahim

By Rauf Klasra and Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: PPPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim is said to have rejected on Monday an offer by party Co-chairman Asif Zardari to nominate three ministers of his own choice in the federal government and six in the Sindh government in exchange for his withdrawal from the race for the slot of prime minister.

Sources said Zardari made this offer as a last ditch effort to break the deadlock over the issue of nomination of prime minister. Both the leaders will once again meet at the Zardari House on Tuesday.

Fahim refused to discuss with Asif possible names of the future prime minister. Despite repeated efforts and persuasion by Asif to show flexibility on the issue of prime minister, Fahim did not oblige him and said he would contest for the slot of prime minister if Asif nominated someone else.

Fahim in Monday’s meeting formally proposed Zardari as party’s nominee for the PM slot. “I have proposed the name of Asif Ali Zardari and if he agrees I will fully support him,” said Amin Fahim while talking to newsmen after two-hour long meeting with Asif at Zardari House. Asked whether he would accept any one else nominated by Asif Zardari for the top slot he said he would wait for Mr Zardari’s reply. “We will meet again on Tuesday and by that time Zardari would have made a decision.” Fahim said the meeting was held in cordial atmosphere.

When asked whether he was consulted for the nomination of the speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly, he said consultations were going on and the party would announce today its candidates for both the posts. “It was already decided that Asif Ali Zardari would announce the party nominees for these posts, as the party has already given him powers to select any one for theses posts,” he added.

Asked whether he would accept the decision on speaker and deputy speaker, he said he would accept the decisions of party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on this issue. Replying to another question regarding postponement of his meeting with Zardari on Sunday, he said the meeting was scheduled but it was cancelled, as he had to go to Nowshera. “Actually today I wanted to invite him to my residence for dinner but due to security concerns the meeting was held at Zardari House. We will meet again today (Tuesday),” he added.

It was their third meeting to settle the issue of party nominee of the prime minister. According to sources, Makhdoom Amin Fahim told Asif Ali Zardari that he only supports him for the post of the prime minister and if he was not interested then he will remain in the race.

The meeting took place after one-on-one meeting between the two at the chamber of the Senate opposition leader Raza Rabbani in the Parliament House. Sources said the issue of banners that were displayed outside the Parliament House against Makhdoom Amin Fahim also came under discussion and Zardari told him that the party did not know who displayed these banners. “The party respects you as one of the senior leaders and no party worker was involved in the incident which might be the handiwork of those who want to fuel controversies within the party,” a party source quoted Asif Ali Zardari as saying.

Zardari fails to tame Fahim

 

[Interceptor]

Amin Fahim suggests Zardari to become PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians President Makhdoom Amin Fahim has said that he will fully support if Asif Ali Zardari wanted to become Prime Minister.

Talking to media persons here after having one-on-one meeting with PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari he said the meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere.

He said that besides other issues they also discussed the nomination of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

When asked he would support if some one else was nominated for the slot of Prime Ministership, Makhdoom Fahim said that he had suggested to Asif Ali Zardari to become Prime Minister.

“Asif Zardari will think about it and if he wants to become Prime Minister I will fully support him”, Amin Fahim said. He said there would be another meeting in this regard on Tuesday.

Amin Fahim suggests Zardari to become PM

Owe dear where is Mastan when it comes to inside info, the PM is going to be of the PPP and there are no disputes within the PPP

 

[mujahideen]

Owe dear where is Mastan when it comes to inside info, the PM is going to be of the PPP and there are no disputes within the PPP

Well of course the Prime Minister is going to come from the PPP, but I think their are disputes. I personally think Fahim is the best man for the job. Zaradari isn't even qualified, the college he claim he attended doesn't even exist.

 

[HAIDER]

Zardari is hesitating to take PM post right now. Media already issued a list of his corruption. On the other hand Nawaz has no future since he threat top ranking military officers for Kargil investigation. Nawaz confrontational politics has already end to get any key role in govt. Except lecturing his party members or watching session from lobby.

 

[batmannow]

WHAT are the options left for MAKHDOM AMIN FAHIM,if he cant get the post of prime minster, i guss , no one from inside the party is ready to support him at least for now.
ZARDARI is seemingly trying to put his own supporters on the key posts inside party and also willing to do same in case the upcomming goverment.

with full of people who are crazy about power, money, ZARDARI is getting all kind of support from most the ppp members, how can MAF , counter all this?

 

[BATMAN]

It seems Ameen Fahim may revert to legal help, if turned annoyed but I assume sponsors of Zardari will buy him a flat in UK and he will be content with this.

One of my friend use to quote a funny phrase on occassions liek this: If anti had had balls! She wouldn't be anti on the first place

 

[BATMAN]

Owe dear where is Mastan when it comes to inside info, the PM is going to be of the PPP and

I think since ANP and PML-N had turned down PPP's offer and since Zardari is not going to make any such offers to other political parties (out of some classified reasons) eventually, PPP will be tying bell to the cat.

there are no disputes within the PPP

If you have the courage to deny facts on the face of whole world than obviously you will always negate insider informers.

You are a typical insane ‘Jiyala’ example.

 

[mujahideen]

If we notice what Zaradari has been saying over the past few months we can get a sence of his intentions. He has been saying on a regular basis that he doesn't want to be Prime Minister but his party wants him to become Prime Minister. Now knowing Mr.10% we all know what his true intentions are.

 

[mujahideen]

Sindhi speaker seals fate of Fahim

By Tariq Butt

ISLAMABAD: The nomination and almost certain election of Dr Fehmida Mirza as the first woman speaker of the National Assembly has practically sealed the fate of Makhdoom Amin Fahim and his aspirations to become the prime minister of Pakistan.

Asif Ali Zardari’s old friendship with Dr Fehmida Mirza's spouse, her loyalty to the PPP and his preference to have a prime minister from the Punjab were the main factors behind her selection as the new National Assembly speaker.

"There is not even an iota of doubt left now that the PPP's prime ministerial nominee will be from the majority province," a prominent PPP leader told The News. Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, himself an aspirant for the top office, says when the speaker has the Sindh domicile, the prime minister would be from the Punjab. This is quite obvious, he believes.

Another senior PPP leader said the decision to nominate Dr Fehmida was also meant to cut Makhdoom Amin Fahim to size. Now, he said, Amin Fahim's fate is sealed. “This is now a closed chapter.”

Dr Fehmida's husband, Zulfikar Mirza, was Zardari's classmate at the Petaro Cadet College and has been his best friend. During previous governments of Benazir Bhutto, Mirza was often accused of being Zardari's front-man in alleged shady deals. That was why Mirza, whose car registration Zulfi One, used to make waves in the federal capital during those days, disappeared from the scene after the dismissal of second Benazir government in 1996.

Mirza had gone underground as he was wanted in many corruption charges. His business was also closed down that he got restored through the superior courts. He is the son of a retired Supreme Court judge.

The couple defeated another couple, aligned with the PML-Q, in the Feb 18 parliamentary elections from Badin. Dr Fehmida routed Yasmin Shah in a National Assembly constituency while her husband defeated Pappu Shah on a Sindh Assembly seat.

Dr Fehmida, born in Karachi on December 20, 1956, has been repeatedly returned to the National Assembly in the direct election. She is daughter of (late) Qazi Abdul Majid Abid, who was a minister in cabinets headed by Mohammad Khan Junejo, Benazir Bhutto and Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (caretaker). Dr Fehmida is an agriculturist and businesswoman by profession. She did her MBBS from the Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro in 1982. She has two sons and two daughters.

Sindhi speaker seals fate of Fahim

 

[mujahideen]

PPP leaders wonder who put up anti-Fahim banners

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
By Usman Manzoor

ISLAMABAD: The top Pakistan People's Party leadership is confused over the issue who may be behind the anti-Amin Fahim banner campaign, which triggered a sharp reaction among the members of the National Assembly who were on their way to the Parliament House for the first session of the new assembly.

Although, there has been a consensus among the MNAs from Sindh that the supporters of MNAs from the Punjab were behind the banner campaign against Makhdoom Amin Fahim, no one was coming on record to tell the actual story to the media.

Even PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also saw those banners yet did not react on the occasion. His reaction came when reservations were raised by MNAs from Sindh in the meeting of the parliamentary party. The banners were removed during the parliamentary party's meeting.

The supporters of PPP MNAs from the Punjab, who have come with their MNAs from their constituencies, were involved in such activities, sources in the PPP told The News.

However, Farhatullah Babar, PPP’s official spokesman, said the party had nothing to do with those banners.

These supporters were trying to create a rift in the party by not supporting a prime minister from Sindh, said the sources.

First, these elements had succeeded to create differences between Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Asif Ali Zardari and now they were widening those differences, revealed the sources adding that separate demonstrations in favour of the two big guns of the party and placing of banners with Zardari Lovers written in the vicinity of the Zardari House was also a conspiracy to tear apart the party.

The sources said plenty of supporters of the PPP MNAs from the Punjab had gathered in Islamabad and were involved in the anti-Makhdoom Amin Fahim campaign, which was going on in the Capital since the last week. Separate demonstrations were also staged by the supporters from the Punjab, said the sources.

The sources said the party would devise a strategy to unveil those black sheep in an important meeting within a day.

"These people have succeeded in creating ambiguity among the general public regarding the nomination of the prime minister."

The sources said these supporters were also trying to hold Naheed Khan, the political secretary of the slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, responsible for the banner campaign.

When contacted by The News, Naheed Khan said she would never involve herself in such dirty politics. She said the PPP was like her mother and she would never like her mother to suffer.

She said the reason behind her going into the background was that she was not mentally prepared to do any sort of politics.

PPP leaders wonder who put up anti-Fahim banners

 

[mujahideen]

No set rule for PM, Speaker need come from separate provinces

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader, Makhdoom Amin Fahim has termed this presumption, saying the Speaker and the Prime Minister could not be from same province, wrong. Talking to the newsmen here, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that there was no set norm making it mandatory for the Prime Minister and the Speaker should come from separate provinces. Elaborating, he said that this theory was wrong that if the Speaker was from one province, then the Prime Minister could not be from the same province. He further said that if President Pervez Musharraf invited for the formation of the government, then he would talk to Asif Zardari. He said, “Why should I raise objection, when making Yusuf Raza Gilani PM was not even sounded.”

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Amin Fahim avoids writing ‘brother of Benazir’

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim did not write ‘brother of Benazir’ at the register during the meeting of PPP’s parliamentary party as he was directed to do. According to sources, all the male PPP members were advised to write ‘brother of Benazir’ and female members to write ‘sister of Benazir’ at the register. All the party MNAs complied with the directives; however, Makhdoom Amin Fahim did not write ‘brother of Benazir’.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Fahim gives Zardari a back-handed compliment

By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: PPPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Wednesday reminded his party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to keep his promises. In his speech in the National Assembly, he felicitated the speaker and termed her election historic. "This is a historic moment as Pakistan now heads towards real democracy."

He said Asif Ali Zardari is a friend of friends and honours his commitment. "I hope he will continue to keep his promises," he added. He said it is the responsibility of all members of the National Assembly to work for a democratic, prosperous and developed Pakistan. He said the new government has to work hard to overcome the price hike.

Online adds: Meanwhile, while talking to media persons outside parliament before starting of the National Assembly session, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said he would wait for the nomination of prime minister till March 23, adding his son would not be a candidate for any office if no office was awarded to him according to his expectation.

"I will take all decisions in the supreme national interest and take steps to redress problems being faced by citizens of the country after taking office of prime minister," he said. No package, Fahim said, was prepared during his meeting with Asif Ali Zardari. He strongly condemned displaying of banners against him outside parliament and said the matter was settled after the strict notice of Asif Ali Zardari in this respect.

PPP would take decision about premiership after elections of speaker and deputy speaker National Assembly, he said, adding he is still in race for premiership. The party's central leadership is not in hurry to nominate candidate for the slot of premiership, Fahim pointed out.

After appointment of the speaker from Sindh and deputy speaker from Punjab, the impression and theory to nominate prime minister from Punjab is wrong, as in past the speaker, prime minister and president were appointed from Punjab.

To a question, Fahim said that there was no rift in the party. PPP is united and the party would take decision in supreme national interest, he concluded.On the other hand, Central leader PPP Nabil Gabol said that the name for the slot of premiership has been finalised and announcement in this respect would be made after election of speaker and deputy speaker National Assembly.

He told reporters that the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker and federal ministers could be changed in case of poor performance while Amin Fahim was senior politician and he would not commit mistake to create rift in the party.

While PPP leader Shah Mehmud Qureshi ruled out that any name has been finalised for prime minister of the country. He said that he was not candidate for any position. "We are going to write history while electing a female member for position of speaker of National Assembly," he said. He told newsmen that manifesto of PPP was clear to empower women and it would be strengthened after election of the speaker.

Fahim gives Zardari a back-handed compliment