LAHORE – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has announced that it will go ahead with its planned workers’ convention at Minar-e-Pakistan regardless of whether the Punjab government grants permission while also launching a series of protest activities until approval is issued.
Addressing a press conference at Gulzar House in Lahore, PPP Lahore President Faisal Mir said the party had been waiting for more than five weeks for permission to hold the convention but had received no response from the provincial government. He alleged that the delay reflected an unwillingness to provide the PPP with political space in Lahore.
Flanked by party leaders including Majeed Ghauri, Khurram Farooq, Ahmed Ghuman, Azeen Gulzar, Tahira Jalib, Aamir Naseer Butt, Amjad Jatt, Rao Shujaat and Chavez Nadeem, Mir said the party had earlier decided to stage a peaceful protest but postponed it due to the prevailing national situation.
He maintained that the convention would be held irrespective of the government’s decision, questioning why other political parties were allowed to organise public gatherings while the PPP was allegedly being denied the same right.
Appealing to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Mir urged the provincial government to uphold democratic values and honour the spirit of the Charter of Democracy by allowing the PPP to organise its event. He warned that denying the party permission would undermine democratic traditions.
Mir announced that the PPP would begin holding torchlight processions outside Minar-e-Pakistan every evening from July 17, continuing the campaign until permission for the convention is granted.
He said invitations had been extended to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to attend the gathering. Mir also claimed that the party had around 20,000 office-bearers in Lahore and was regaining political momentum in the provincial capital.
The PPP leader further proposed that the government introduce a social security programme for workers and provide educated unemployed youth with a monthly stipend until they secure employment.
Commenting on local government elections, Mir said the main political contest in Punjab would be between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He added that the workers’ convention would conclude with a cake-cutting ceremony to mark President Asif Ali Zardari’s birthday.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP leader Majeed Ghauri said party workers had been fully mobilised across Lahore and expressed confidence that a large number of supporters would participate in the convention.
Azeen Gulzar also urged the Punjab government to permit the event, saying every political party had the democratic right to peacefully organise public gatherings in accordance with its political ideology.
