Abidi replaced for having alleged links with land mafia.

KARACHI, September 16, 2009 (Balochistan Times): President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the co-chairperson of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has replaced the partys Karachi President, Senator Faisal Raza Abidi for his disinterest in party affairs, and alleged links with land mafia. The PPP sources told that President Zardari had been receiving complaints from workers regarding negligence and disinterest of Mr Abidi in party affairs, and his alleged links with land mafia agents, who are involved in land grabbing in different parts of the metropolis, earning a bad name to the party. The workers, sources said, were also unhappy with Mr Abidi for promoting and patronizing his personal group with the local party structure, and sidelining the stalwarts, who always stood alongside the party in testing times. His disinterest in party affairs could be gauged by the fact that after getting elected as a senator, he did not visit Karachi for next five months. Such an important chapter of the party was being run on ad hoc basis due to his absence, a senior PPP worker said. Mr Abidi has been assigned a low-profile post, i.e. coordinator of peoples youth, a wing that exists only on papers. Sources said that senior party leaders Afaq Shahid, Saeed Ghani, and Shahnawaz Shani are strong candidates for the post of PPP Karachi division.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)