PPP to launch fresh membership drive in Punjab after Eid

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party’s leadership has resolved that fresh membership drive of the party in Punjab would be launched after upcoming Eidul Fitr while any change in provincial set-up of the party would be done through consultation with its central executive committee.
The decisions to this effect were taken at a meeting chaired by Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari here at the Bilawal House in Karachi on Thursday and attended by top leaders of PPP from Punjab.
The meeting was attended by former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PPP Punjab President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, former governor and president PPP South Punjab Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood, Qamaruz Zaman Kaira, Senator Sherry Rehman, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, Shaukat Basra and Jameel Soomro. The meeting gained significance in the wake of recent defections from the party’s Punjab chapter by its leaders and former lawmakers to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The meeting discussed in detail situation of the party in Punjab in post-defection scenario.
The meeting decided that changes in set-up of the party’s in Punjab from ward level till provincial leadership tier would be undertaken on gradual basis. The meeting also resolved that public contact campaign in the run-up to upcoming local govt elections in Punjab would be launched in coming month and in this regard public meetings and workers’ conventions would be held.
In this regard, it was decided that contacts on full-fledged basis would be established with disgruntled workers and leaders of the party in Punjab in order to persuade them not to leave the party. All such contact campaigns of the party’s Punjab chapter in this regard would be undertaken under supervision of the party’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto.
The session at the Bilawal House resolved that PPP would field candidates on each and every constituency in Punjab for upcoming local govt elections. While any decision regarding striking any electoral alliance with any other political party with regard to local govt polls would be taken after consulting leadership of PPP at the district level while all such decisions of alliances would also be taken at the district level.
The party’s chairman directed the Punjab leadership to submit to him a detailed report in the next such consultative meeting of the party, on the situation of the party in the province after recent defections of the party’s leaders. Bilawal Bhutto is likely to tour Punjab in the current month and in this regard schedule of his visit is being finalized. The party’s chairman also directed leaders of the party from Punjab that they should remain in close contact with masses and electorates.
The meeting discussed overall political situation in the country and leaders from Punjab said that Nawaz government has not fulfilled the promises, which has disappointed the people. This is the time that people of Punjab are given hope, which is present in the shape of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, they pointed out.
The PPP leaders further said that people, especially from Punjab are looking towards the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pinning great expectations.
Speaking on the occasion, the PPP chairman said that these kinds of consultative meetings should be held at every level so that the party can be strengthened. He stressed that Party leaders should establish direct contact with people for full preparations for upcoming local government elections.On the other hand, Senior Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Yaseen also called on the Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and apprised him about the Party issues in AJK.