Dissenting voices disrupt ceremony

PESHAWAR: A gathering in connection with the 36th death anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founding chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), was disturbed by dissenting voices who oppose the tripartite alliance with the ANP and JUI-F for contesting the forthcoming local government elections.
The function, organised by the PPP city district in Gulbahar, was attended by a large number of party workers.
The PPP leaders and workers remembered Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the services rendered by him for Pakistan and for the working and deprived classes of the country.
They eulogised the party’s founding chairman for his ceaseless efforts for the uplift of the downtrodden people and for raising awareness about their rights.
The PPP, Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have entered into an electoral alliance for the upcoming local bodies’ election in the province, but some PPP activists are opposed to it.
During the speech of Zulfiqar Afghani, president of PPP Peshawar city district, a group of party activists asked him to condemn and declare his opposition to the tripartite alliance. However, Zulfiqar Afghani refused to do so, causing anger among party workers.
“We will oppose the alliance tooth and nail and will never agree to such arrangements,” said Zulfiqar Awan, a party activist who led the protest.
He said Zulfiqar Afghani had earlier agreed that he would oppose the alliance, but went back on his words and did not oppose this agreement.
Workers termed the alliance non-ideological and said they would not follow the so-called party decisions which go against the basic vision of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Zulfiqar Awan said that if the party did not withdraw the decision about the alliance, PPP workers would contest election against the candidates of the tripartite alliance.
The workers chanted slogans against party’s provincial president Senator Khanzada Khan. The protesting workers left after recording their protest and did not return to attend the function.
Later, Zulfiqar Afghani said it had been decided earlier that on such a solemn occasion the issues causing dispute and controversies would not be discussed. He regretted the attitude of party workers who disturbed the function organised to commemorate the death anniversary of their great leader. He said decision of the tripartite alliance was made by the top PPP leadership and they were committed to follow it.