“I, as a sister, urge you for the last time to hold this meeting as soon as possible to ease the concerns of PUK supporters and end the waiting. This is not only my demand, it is of all organs, offices, cadres, members and supporters of the PUK,” read a letter from Ahmed to Rasul.
She urged him to call a meeting for Sunday.
The PUK has tentatively set March 5 as the date for its congress. On February 15, the leadership council was given 10 days to make a final decision on the date.
Rasul has been acting as the head of PUK following the death of the party’s leader and founder Jalal Talabani in October. The party has been weakened by internal power struggles since its founder’s death and accusations that elements within the party gave up Kirkuk to Iraqi forces.
Ahmed, Jalal Talabani’s widow, warned Rasul to act, writing, “I hope you will execute the responsibility you shoulder so that your name will not enter the pages of history as the dissolver of Mam Jalal’s bouquet of flowers and the PUK.”
The letter is dated February 22. Rasul has not publicly responded as of yet.
The PUK's Rewaz Fayeq confirmed the existence of the letter and told Rudaw on Saturday, “so far we have not been informed of the leadership meeting and it is not likely to take place tomorrow.”
The PUK is planning for its congress ahead of Iraq’s parliamentary elections scheduled for May 12, and as-yet unscheduled general elections in the Kurdistan Region.
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