Zardari may appoint sister Faryal to replace him as PPP Co-chairperson

Islamabad, Sept 4 : PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's sister and PPP MNA Faryal Talpur might be assigned the job of handling party's affairs in the capacity of party's Co-chairperson, reports emerging from Islamabad have said.

Quoting a senior PPP leader, The News reported that though the party was yet to take a decision to this effect, it is believed that Faryal Talpur would possibly be assigned the job.

Though in the past, reports had suggested that Zardari may not resign as PPP Co-chairman after taking over the next President, a section of his party leaders

Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar admitted that there was an established convention that the President of Pakistan should be a neutral person and should not be a representative of any political party. Babar said that though the Constitution was silent on the political neutrality of the President, he admitted that his party was a strong critic of former president Pervez Musharraf for acting as the head of the PML-Q.

Even Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had reiterated recently that the President should be neutral and a symbol of the federation.

When asked if the incumbent co-chairman will continue to lead the party even after becoming the president, the PPP spokesman said no decision had been taken yet on the issue.

About the possibility of Faryal Talpur becoming the co-chairperson of the party, he said he would not get involved in conjecturing.

However, a very senior PPP leader, on condition of not being named, told this correspondent that Faryal Talpur was the likely choice for Zardari to replace him as the party's co-chairperson. He said in such an eventuality, there might be a strong possibility of cracks emerging in the party, adding that Faryal Talpur might not be acceptable as the party chairperson to several PPP leaders.

"What is her contribution for the party that she should be made the co-chairperson of the party?" the PPP leader said and added that Faryal was not even a member of the party's central executive committee.

ANI