LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is likely to arrive in the country before Dec 27 to attend the ninth death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto as the former president considers political environment ‘conducive’ for his return.

The timing of his arrival is being linked to the departure of Gen Raheel Sharif by some in political circles.

“After the hard-hitting speech against the military establishment, Mr Zardari chose to go into self-exile in Dubai about one-and-a-half years ago as a clear message was reportedly given to him. Now the environment is conducive and Mr Zardari has announced his return to the country,” a source in the PPP told Dawn on Monday.

The former president had left for Dubai in mid-2015 soon after accusing the military establishment of overstepping its domain. “Army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs. If you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan’s creation,” he had said.

After his departure there was a word around that he might not return till the completion of the tenure of Gen Sharif.

But the PPP does not agree with this impression, terming it “mere propaganda” by his opponents.

“If someone thinks that return of Mr Zardari has anything to do with the departure of Gen Raheel, they are seriously mistaken as he had not said anything against the outgoing army chief in his speech. If one thinks that he (Zardari) had said anything against the army then as an institution its policy does not change even after the change of command,” said PPP’s Punjab president Qamar Zaman Kaira.

In reply to a question about the timing of Mr Zardari’s return, he said: “The former president had already declared that he could return to Pakistan anytime. There was no bar on him.”

The PPP has planned to accord Mr Zardari a warm welcome on his return. The party is of the view that Mr Zardari’s arrival will strengthen the party without squeezing the space he has given to his son — PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

“Zardari sahib is likely to return here before Dec 27 to attend Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary,” PPP Senator Saeed Ghani told Dawn.

“There will be an effective coordination and better management of the affairs of the party in the presence of Mr Zardari here. Besides, Mr Bhutto-Zardari will further hone his capabilities under the guidance his father,” he said.

During the past one-and-a-half years, the PPP leaders had to go to Dubai for consultations with Mr Zardari on issues relating to the Sindh government as well as the party.

As the young chairman got time to lead the party in the absence of his father, Mr Ghani said, the combination of the duo (Zardari-Bilawal) here would make a difference on the political front and strengthen it.

PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly Qazi Ahmad Saeed told Dawn that the former president would be here among the workers to attend the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, adding that his (Mr Zardari’s) return would strengthen the PPP in the current political situation.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2016