PPP workers’ convention in Lahore hits snag as district administration denies permission

The Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) plan to hold a workers’ convention at Grand Iqbal Park on July 25 suffered a setback on Friday after the Lahore district administration halted preparations for the event, saying the party had not obtained written permission.

The move came after the party had already erected a stage and made extensive preparations at the venue, with workers expected to gather on Saturday and later celebrate President Asif Ali Zardari’s birthday on July 26.

The district administration has sought an explanation from the PPP leadership regarding the use of park premises without formal approval.

The Express PK Press Club contacted PPP Lahore President Faisal Mir on the matter, who claimed that his party made the arrangement “after receiving assurance from the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office”.

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“I was told that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had no objection to the convention and had approved the event,” he said.

“Based on this assurance, we have started preparations for the event at Grand Iqbal Park,” Mir added.

The PPP chairman from Lahore later claimed that the district administration intervened and arrested the workers after nearly 14 hours of preparation for the event.

Mir said he would stand his ground, even if it meant being arrested.

On

Mir further said the PPP hoped that “in keeping with democratic traditions” the issue would be resolved immediately.

When contacted by The Express PK Press Clubthe chief minister’s office refused to say whether the principal secretary to the chief minister had given approval for the event.

Meanwhile, a senior police official, requesting anonymity, said the police had sought clarification on the event from the district administration after learning that preparations were being made at the scene.

He said they were later informed that no written permission had been given, following which the deputy commissioner took cognizance of the matter.

PPP Lahore Deputy Secretary Information Ahmad Rehman Ghuman posted a video on

In another social media post, Ghuman showed a video of the stage erected by workers as well as the seating arrangement for the convention.

A day earlier, PPP workers entered Grand Iqbal Park and started constructing a stage without written approval from the district administration. At the time, the authorities had not stopped preparations.

Talk to The Express PK Press Clubdistrict administration officials said the PPP would not be stopped from holding the convention if there was no fallout between the leaders of the party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

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Sources within the PPP admitted that the party took place without written permission, saying verbal assurances from the chief minister’s office were enough to begin preparations.

Mir had said that Punjab CM principal secretary Sajid Zafar Dall informed him that the chief minister had approved the event, after which the party workers met and started preparations on Thursday.

He added that the police had also been informed of the gathering.

The party planned to erect a stage 100 feet long and 24 feet wide. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was scheduled to address workers via video link on July 25, while Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Hassan Murtaza and Qamar Zaman Kaira were also scheduled to attend the convention.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s birthday was to be marked the next day with the cutting of a 24-foot cake.

Sources said the district administration had advised the PPP to obtain formal approval before proceeding.

Officials reportedly feared that granting permission to the PPP would make it more difficult to deal with similar requests from other political parties, including the PTI, which also sought permission to hold a rally in Lahore on August 5.