LAHORE: General Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday asked Faisal Raza Abidi to resign from Senate seat held by him, DawnNews reported.
Sources said the resignation was demanded over violation of party discipline.
Abidi had developed difference with the PPP leadership after he had stated in a press conference in November 2013 that democracy had failed and martial law should be implemented in Pakistan.
Moreover, the firebrand politician had also tendered his resignation in January 2013, following his outburst against then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry but had later withdrawn it after meeting with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
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Comments (40) Closed
Fiz
Apr 16, 2014 05:17pm
He was already sidelined and inactive in the party. Now with strings let loose, he can go as berserk as he wants.
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Mia
Apr 16, 2014 05:37pm
Yes, the PPP is corrupt, inefficient, and untrustworthy, but martial law is never the answer.
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Karachi Wala
Apr 16, 2014 05:38pm
PPP is making a big mistake.
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Amir
Apr 16, 2014 05:40pm
I think it is more of a topi drama.
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nadeem
Apr 16, 2014 05:41pm
In his stead CM Sind along with his corrupt and inefficient cabinet should have been sacked
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Harmony
Apr 16, 2014 05:49pm
He is one of those with a lot of hot air but no substance. Full of emotional outbursts with unstable mind who loves to bring reams of papers at his talk shows. They should have got rid of him ages ago but Bilawal showed immaturity in persuading him not to go.
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NHM
Apr 16, 2014 05:57pm
let me be the devil's advocate in saying this. He seems to be the only voice of sanity in the senate ever since he made a u turn in his advocacy for a biased judiciary and an unpopular democracy
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Aamir
Apr 16, 2014 06:00pm
Faizal Raza Abidi should refuse to resign. The people voted him in only they can vote him out not a corrupt political party like PPP.
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mjk
Apr 16, 2014 06:10pm
Though Abidi's comments are not appreciable , one is compelled to ask what type of democratic principles are followed within PPP ? It is a party of dynastic family rule, BB left a" note " appointing Bilawal her son who was then 19 years old as chairman of PPP. !
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Goga Nalaik
Apr 16, 2014 06:11pm
Dear Faisal,
Corrupt people (who seem to have taken control over the leadership of PPP) will never accept a person who is bold and loud and who speaks the truth! You smell good and they all stink!
Please do throw your resignation letter on Raja Rental's face.
Your fan
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gerry d'cunha
Apr 16, 2014 06:17pm
he has spoken the truth and truth hurts everyone, especially the noora kushti party (PPP/PML) in pakistan
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naeem khan
Apr 16, 2014 06:27pm
good he was spreading sectarian hatred for far too long
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Man from UNCLE
Apr 16, 2014 06:51pm
Even photo-op could not work on the picture above.
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Khangul
Apr 16, 2014 07:00pm
You are right Faisal Abidi, it is the mindset from A to Z that we are cursed with. "But Allah is the best planner" [Quran]. You have already made your point and won!
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haris
Apr 16, 2014 07:08pm
@Aamir:
Senators are not elected on people's vote or direct election.
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Zak
Apr 16, 2014 07:11pm
@Mia:
The only answer for this unruly, undisciplined and corrupt qaum is martial and rule of a true, honest, patriotic benevolent dictator. Alas, where to find one.
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Zak
Apr 16, 2014 07:13pm
@Goga Nalaik:
My question to you is when was PPP not governed by corrupts, any party for that matter? Your comment seems to imply that somewhere along the way PPP was not governed by corrupts.
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Aftab Alam Khan
Apr 16, 2014 07:29pm
When a true JIyala having close relationship with the then President prefers martial law over the democratic government and blows whistle, it is time to count what democracy has given to Pakistan and its restless people who are being ruined both by poverty and targeted killing.
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SHN
Apr 16, 2014 07:30pm
He is too good for PPP, if anything remaining with PPP makes his sane and honest statements lose some credibility since critics often taunt his affiliation with PPP. I hope the resignation is actually completed this time. Also those accusing him of spreading "sectarian hatred", did you know Faisal Raza Abidi pushes for nothing but sectarian harmony? His "alliance" consists of MWM and Sunni Ittehad Council, you must be ignorant to really to say he spreads sectarian "hatred". He does the complete opposite, and it burns you disguised bigot to see unity between different muslim sects, and religions. *DAWN PRINT THIS
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Fareed
Apr 16, 2014 07:30pm
Abidi should have no problem joining MQM provided Altaf Bhai can tolerate a firebrand, vociferous speaker within the party. I guess he won't, Abidi will challenge him. & Altaf's old cronies won't tolerate him.
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event horizon
Apr 16, 2014 07:58pm
@Mia:
These days Dawn moderators do not publish my comments. Yet, I will try and make a comment hoping it gets published. PPP is extremely inefficient, totally oblivious of what PR and media relations are about, carries tons of corruption charges (none proven in a court of law so far, more of media trial and propaganda), kings of mismanagement, sultans of making compromises with all and sundry, agenda-less lot who still ride on decades old emotions, bad politics, un-intelligent, lethargic, overly-optimist, blind enough not to read writings on the wall, etc. etc. But PPP is not untrustworthy. They are supposed to remain loyal to democracy. The day they are disloyal to democracy will be the day I lose the remaining sympathy for them. I am sure there will be millions of Pakistanis just like me.
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Shah
Apr 16, 2014 07:59pm
@mjk:
We are still in Mughal era!!!
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Aslam
Apr 16, 2014 08:21pm
I sincerely hope that he joins MQM.
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Aman Jan
Apr 16, 2014 09:09pm
@Aamir:
He is a member of senate not national assembly and was chosen by the party for senate not by the masses
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malick
Apr 16, 2014 09:28pm
PPP internal matter. stop comments.
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kam
Apr 16, 2014 10:57pm
@Mia:
Why not? Seems hypocracy rules in Pakistan. The most democratic example of democracy is a referendum. Why not have a referendum and ask the common people if they want martial law? Only the corrupt want democracy so as to loot and plunder. Guess your one of the elites?
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iftekharhussain
Apr 17, 2014 01:09am
Few Urdu speaking men and women can be given slots in the PPP
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kirtheer
Apr 17, 2014 02:14am
good decision there is no need to continue with impotent leadership of PPP
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GKN
Apr 17, 2014 03:23am
He was a loose cannon ,an ardent defender of A. A. Zardari on TV talk shows to the extent that in his opinion AAZ was the greatest leader of Asia after Mao Tse Tung .Initially he was given importance by PPP , given huge responsibility in the affairs of Karachi but he failed. Frankly an Urdu speaking man had no place in PPP's Sindhi hierarchy , he was more suited for MQM.
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Abdullah N
Apr 17, 2014 03:30am
He was more involved in sectarian debates, defending & speaking for one particular sect than in the affairs of PPP. Having no following among urdu speaking ethnic group, he became a liability. I think he is more suited for MQM provided Altaf Bhai can put up with his abrasive style of politics.
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Shahpur
Apr 17, 2014 03:48am
This Faisal Raza Abidi looks young and active. He should form a new Party, along with others like him.
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Tariq K Sami
Apr 17, 2014 04:17am
Let the truth prevail.
Lets put partisan bickering aside and consider the issues he is putting on the floor of the Senate against the Ex Chief Justice. For no one is above the Law.
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Tariq K Sami
Apr 17, 2014 04:19am
@Fiz:
Its not about him going berserk. It should be about what he is saying. If he is right than you should be ashamed of yourself. From what I have seen he has some very valid points.
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AZMAISH
Apr 17, 2014 09:05am
How wonderful when our political leaders can freely speak up without fear of being jailed. In this way our nation is a true Democracy.
How brave of Faisal Raza Abidi to stand up for his principles instead of towing the party line. He was right to protest against then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry since he was behind false charges being leveled at Gen. Musharraf today.
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Zak
Apr 17, 2014 12:35pm
A good clean man with his own brash style of politicking. If he was put towards a good genuine cause, he would outshine others in performance. PTI should grab him.
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mjk
Apr 17, 2014 07:37pm
@Zak:
He is more suited to the politics of MQM
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Mustafa
Apr 18, 2014 07:53am
Zardari does not let any body with the slightest trace of intelligence and dignity in lime light for long. Babar Awan, Salman Taseer, Aitizaz Ahsan and now Faisal Raza Abidi. This is exactly what Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto did to Dr. Mubasshir Hasan, Meraj Mohommad Khan and several others. Bhuttos and Zardaris don't want anyone to outshine them and they are not a very difficult family to outshine.
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zia khan
Apr 18, 2014 12:46pm
Good decision by PPP leadership. Abidi is a talent free person. He can only be a Zakir.
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Karrar
Apr 18, 2014 06:24pm
It takes real guts to "call a spade, a spade". The rest of us are either biased or blinded!
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Sehrish
Apr 19, 2014 05:31am
this is a sad new. I am really disappointed at this resignation of Syed Faisal Raza Abidi. the party for which he has worked so hard and even he takes stand for it up til now has preferred the backstabbing government seats rather than supporting a true party member. lets not forget that there was once a position of a spokesperson of Asif Ali Zardari.. and Abidi actually did a great job in proving that Asif is innocent and a tax payer civilian of Pakistan. It really feels sad. All I want to say to Senator is that please don't be disheartened because of some weak-hearten persons, we, the real Pakistan supports you and feel that you are one real person in the political scenario who is actually taking stand for those who are wrongly murdered and butchered by terrorist groups. I stand by your decision of letting army take over as this population really doesn't deserve democracy.I salute Faisal Abidi that he has taken stand against corruption when none of the politicians had the guts to do so.
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