ISLAMABAD, (PTI) The Benazir Bhutto government received a shot in the arm with former Punjab Governor Ghulam Mustafa Khan rejoining the Pakistan People’s Party, Former Punjab chief minister and governor and considered to be ‘one of the most powerful politicians when Zulfingar Ali Bhutto was in power, said formal merger of his breakaway National People Party (NPP Khar group) would be held soon at Lahore.
Speculations had been rife for the last three weeks of his reentering the PPP after he had two long unscheduled meetings with Bhutto.
Political observers here say his reduction into the PPP was mainly aimed at countering the growing popularity of Pun jab chief minister and opposition leader, Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Addressing a. crowded press conference Khar said it was one of the most difficult decisions (of rejoining the PPP) he had to take in life. “It will make me or break me”,
He refused to comment on reports which said several members of the national assembly belonging to the Isalamic Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) had decided to join heads with him.
Ghulan Mustafa Khar said he ‘was announcing his decision due to major political considerations and in “keeping with the wishes of the Prime minister.”
Khar said he had considered various options including joining hands with the opposition. However, he felt that the combined opposition was not capable of forming a stable administration.
Replying to a question on whether he had sought a berth in the federal cabinet or would restrict his activities to any conditions on each other.”
He said there was need for national reconciliation among various political groups instead of confrontation.
In a significant development, his younger brother, Rabani Khar, and IJ] leader, was on October 16 inducted into the Punjab cabinet by Nawaz Sharif in his move to pit one brother against the other.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 27, 1989
