WASHINGTON – The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) roped in a lobbying firm in Washington and paid $100,000 fees for arranging meetings and media interviews for party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
According to media reports and papers available with concerned US departments, the payment (11,584,000 in PKR) to lobbyist Jonathan Stember’s firm “Gunster Strategies Worldwide” was made for one month in February this year, days before Bilawal Bhutto was set to land in the US capital city
The agreement was confirmed by a spokesman of the lobbying firm as well as a senior PPP leader, on the condition of anonymity, revealing that the firm was engaged from 2nd February 2018 till 2nd March 2018.
Moreover, papers filed by the Gunster Strategies Worldwide with the National Security Division (NSD) and US Department of Justice note the name of Pakistan People’s Party as a “foreign political party, registered at Parliament Lodges, Islamabad, Pakistan”.
The lobbying firm said that the PPP was dedicated to “promoting democracy while supporting public ownership, egalitarianism, equality and a strong national defence”, promising to arrange interaction between the chairman and various members of the congressional and executive branches.
Bilawal was flanked by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son Qasim Gilani and Shehryar Taseer during the Washington tour, who posted pictures of the group travelling on a train. It is also believed that Bilawal’s invitation to the National Prayer Breakfast was also arranged by the lobbying firm, The News reported.
During the tour, the PPP media cell and Bilawal posted pictures of himself with US Secretary of State Mr RexTillerson and his wife and the 29-year-old leader addressed the Woodrow Wilson Institute where he spoke about the need of a strong democracy in Pakistan to counter terrorism.
Additionally, Bilawal also met Congressman Brad Sherman of Democratic Party in Capitol Hill as well.
PPP’s engagement with the lobbyist firm was verified by senior leader Farhatullah Babar who stated that Gunster Strategies Worldwide was hired on ‘part-time basis’.
“The PPP does not have a permanent lobbyist in the US. The NBP Committee arranges side meetings focusing on faith, peace and harmony. The purpose of the meetings, of course, was to put across Pakistan’s case on various issues and to seek support for human development projects in Pakistan as for instance in his meeting with USAID officials.” said the PPP leader.
The PPP leadership has been relying on lobbyists in Washington to push forward its narrative from over a couple of years now. In 2011, the PPP govt had hired Locke Lord Strategies to launch a charm offensive at the Capitol Hill.
Benazir Bhutto had also hired Mark Siegel, a political operative who had been executive director of the Democratic National Committee, to act on behalf of the Pakistani government. It was Siegel who received an e-mail from the PPP leader regarding threats to her life.
The slain PPP leader had also hired BKSH & Associates in 2007 to counter Pervez Musharraf who had cemented ties with then US administration.
