Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has launched a damage control campaign primarily due to very late nod from the Presidency to the decision of deposed judges reinstatement.
"Restoration of judiciary is a good step that must have been used to the advantage of the ruling party. Apart from this, the party leaders are mending fences to nullify the impression that President Asif Ali Zardari had been the stumbling block in taking the much-needed decision to avert the possible collapse of the political system," informed sources told Business Recorder on Monday.
The day, the deposed judges were restored, PPP leaders have started coining new words and phrases to propagate Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto struggle for independent judiciary and restoration of deposed judges.
The successful mass support show of the PML (N) and other parties on Sunday in Lahore is really a point to ponder for the ruling party. The role of Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in brokering the deal to end the political crisis is being praised in the local and foreign media.
The real source of consolation for the party leaders is that PPP as a political party did not face much criticism for the disqualification of Sharif brothers and imposition of Governors Rule in Punjab. Despite this fact, the PPP leaders have sensed that there is lot to be done to reinvigorate the party at grass-roots level. There is also a need to boost the image of the party co-chairman and president Asif Ali Zardari, according to the sources.
Federal Minister for parliamentary affairs Babar Awan came into action on Monday after recovering from his alleged leg fracture, praising the party decision of reinstating the deposed judges. By doing so, PPP has prevented the possible bloodshed. He said slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto had taught us politics of reconciliation.
"PPP will never back out from a consensus bill, he said, adding that President Asif Ali Zardari will address the joint session of Parliament," he added. The ruling party, according to the sources, has also decided to improve the linkages between the party leaders and workers important for the partys strength at grass-roots level. Most of these workers celebrated the reinstatement of deposed judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Majority of the party leaders who remained close to Benazir Bhutto during her life might come forward to portray the president in a positive manner. For this, there is a possibility of strengthening the PPP relations with electronic and print media.
Federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who is holding additional charge of information ministry, has already started his interaction with media. Some circles believe that he has already started a media campaign for the President.
Some circles are of the view that former information minister Sherry Rehman, who resigned last week in protest after certain TV channels were blocked, might be accommodated again in the federal Cabinet. However, it could not be confirmed whether she will be given the portfolio of information ministry.