Dec 09, 2015
News
Faisal Saleh likely to join PPP as Punjab president
Manzoor Wattoo tendered his resignation in second week of NovemberLAHORE – Former interior affairs minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat is likely to join the Pakistan People’s Party as the provincial president in Punjab, sources close to Bilawal House confirmed on Wednesday.
Reportedly, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo – who joined PPP just before the election 2013 – has tendered his resignation as provincial chief to party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto in the second week of November soon after not-so-good performance in the local bodies’ election.
However, the PPP yet not confirmed joining of Faisal Saleh – a politician from Jhang who already served as the member of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee. Born in Lahore, he was elected as the member of the National Assembly for the terms of 1977-77, 1988-1990, 1990-1993, 1993-1996, 2002-2007 and 2008-2012.
In 2002, he was elected MNA on the ticket of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian, later forming the PPP-Patriots and then joining the Pakistan Muslim League-Q. He served as federal minister in several ministries which includes commerce (1988-90), environment, housing and works, Kashmir Affairs and most importantly the Interior Ministry (2002-04).
An agriculturist by profession, Faisal Sale holds a masters’ degree in law and a diploma in business administration from King's College London. It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan People’s Party has eight lawmakers in the 371-member Punjab Assembly.
In his recent interview to Daily Times, Wattoo shared his opinion regarding PPP’s downfall in Punjab, saying the Pakistan Muslim League-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf became more popular during the previous election in the province because Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan were actively campaigning for their parties, whereas PPP led a leaderless campaign.
“Although Asif Zardari used to hold regular party meetings, but there was no physical presence among the general public, which is very important in mainstream politics of Pakistan,” he had said. “PML-N and PTI are Lahore-based parties and it is important for PPP’s leadership to increase people-to-people contacts in the province and address their grievances,” he said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk