Srinagar: In yet another jolt to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its senior leader and former finance minister, Dr Haseeb A Drabu has declined to be part of party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC).
The other day, PDP president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti had nominated Dr Drabu besides another senior leader, Syed Altaf Bukhari as members of party’s apex decision making body – PAC.
In a communiqué send to Mehbooba Mufti, Drabu while commenting on the formation of PAC wrote that the reconstitution of the body appears to be “more of an appeasement than atonement.”
“No wonder the party constitutional limit on members of the PAC has been breached. In addition to 18 members (as against the stipulated 11) there are 10 invitees taking the number to 28,” Drabu wrote in the communiqué.
Reminding the PDP president that as soon as he joined PDP, he was inducted into PAC by late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Drabu wrote that as such he knows the value and significance of PAC member.
“However the PAC has, in the recent past, not only lacked authority but was consciously made to be seen as lacking authority,” wrote Drabu.
Declining to be part of the PAC, Drabu wrote: “…I am not convinced that the PAC is genuinely empowered to pursue whatever is required to bring back the politics of the state from its current state of abyss,” wrote Drabu, regretting his inability to be part of ‘this PAC.’
It is interesting to note that while concluding his communiqué, Drabu didn’t say that he will continue to work for the party (PDP), instead writes: “I will continue to work, as I have in the past, for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous J&K.”
It is worth mentioning here that following the fall of PDP-BJP government, all has not been well within PDP and several party leaders including legislators have public against party’s present leadership.
Former minister and MLA Pattan, Molvi Imran Raza Ansari, MLA Zadibal, Molvi Abid Ansari, MLA Gulmarg, Muhammad Abass Wani, MLA Baramulla, Javed Hassan Beg, MLA Nooranad, Abdul Majid Paddar, MLC, Yasir Reshi are the few who have, in a way, revolted against party leadership.
With Drabu expressing his views about party functioning, hinting at policy of appeasement, and declined to be part of PAC, it seems that PDP is in for much more trouble, say some political watchers.
