No major changes in PPP Punjab leadership likely

ISLAMABAD: No major change is likely in the leadership of the Punjab chapter of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) during the visit of the party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the party hawks are convinced that it will not be suitable to replace the party ‘generals’ in the face of all-out ‘political war’ in the upcoming local bodies elections, sources told The News.
Sources in the PPP said Bilawal will meet delegations of workers belonging to the areas of south Punjab in next three days after which he would listen to the grievances of the party workers of the central Punjab.
“There is a strong demand within the party to replace those faces that are believed to have been responsible for a decline in the popularity of the PPP in Punjab. But the PPP chairman along with some other party leaders seem to be convinced that change in faces at this moment may hamper the efforts to revive the party’s position in the local bodies elections in the Punjab,” the sources said.
Talking to The News, PPP leader Firdous Ashiq Awan said she was one of those party members who had been constantly demanding to provide an opportunity to genuine party workers to come up and help revive the past glory of once the biggest political party of Pakistan.
“Even I am a supporter of intra-party elections because it provides an opportunity to the workers to get the party slots with the power of vote. I am with those party leaders who have opined not to replace party office-bearers in Punjab right before the local bodies elections,” she said.
Firdous Ashiq Awan said old and tired horses are no more able to compete in the political field so there is a need to mobilise the youngsters who can make wonders for the PPP that is at its lowest ebb since its inception. When contacted, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the PPP chairman was currently holding consultative meetings with the workers as part of efforts to get an input for the launch of comprehensive future political strategy.
To a question about any change of office-bearers in Punjab province, he said big and bold decisions would be taken but the timing always matters in politics. “I can say every right decision will be taken at the right time,” he said. Replying to another question, he said it was quite clear that young and energetic people would come up in the party ranks and they would be given important roles to revive the party across the country.