The recent spate of allegations against the ruling PPP took a new turn on Monday when one of its own disgruntled former member Dr Israr Shah said he was expelled for pointing out corruption charges against the Prime Minister and the Law Minister. The former PPP member, Dr Israr Shah made the revelation while addressing a press conference along with Senator Haroon Akhter of PML-Q likeminded.
Dr Shah said that his concern for the reputation of the party was being compromised due to allegations of corruption against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Hajj scam and against Law Minister Babar Awan in Haris Steel Mills case. This had resulted "in suspension and finally in my banishment," he said.
The emotional jiayala (a term used for die-hard supporters of the PPP), who had lost his legs in a suicide attack during the movement for restoration of sacked judges, said "no one else except Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto can expel me from the party with which I had been attached for some last 40 years ago."
Dr Israr Shah had written a letter to his party wherein he had asked the Prime Minister to step down over corruption allegations in Hajj scam in the larger interest of the party and the country. "I belong to the PPP and will always remain sincere to it as no one can detach me from the Shaheed Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto," he said.
"There is no compensation in this world for my amputated legs," he said while rejecting the idea that he was interested in any portfolio. "I was offered ministry by the previous regime but I declined," he revealed which was also authenticated by Haroon Akhter Khan whose party had given the offer.
"Today it is for the first time ever that I have come to the media and am disclosing all these things. I will share my grievances with President Asif Ali Zardari the day he comes out from the influence of those who have hijacked the party," he said. "I was told that indiscipline was the reason behind my removal from the party but am still awaiting what had I done in this respect," he questioned.
Dr Shah said that those who talk about indiscipline actually were unaware of the term itself. While explaining the procedure of removal from the party, he said, membership of those members is cancelled who rebel against party policy or the leadership and no one is removed for telling the truth, he added.
Dr Shah and Senator Khan also announced to withdraw election petitions challenging candidature of each other. Israr Shah said that he was facing litigation since last five years, the day he filed nomination papers for Senate, but had decided to withdraw all cases in the larger interest of the party. "Since I am no more a member of the PPP, therefore, do not have the locus standi to pursue the case on behalf of the party," he said.