The party is gearing up to expand its organizational and electoral footprint in the provincial capital of Punjab
LAHORE:
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Faisal Mir of Lahore on Sunday announced that the party would hold a grand public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on July 25 to mark the birthday of President Asif Ali Zardari, while also unveiling its plans to contest the upcoming local elections in all union councils of Lahore.
Addressing a press conference at Gulzar House in Lahore, Mir said the party was gearing up to expand its organizational and electoral footprint in the provincial capital.
Flanked by former senator Ammar Ahmed Khan, son of former senator Gulzar Ahmed Khan, former PPP leader, he also welcomed Ammar Ahmed Khan and his family into the PPP fold. PPP General Secretary Lahore Dr Ayesha Shaukat, Vice President Lahore Azain Gulzar and Sehar Gulzar, daughter of Senator Gulzar Ahmed Khan, were also present on the occasion.
Mir claimed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would address the rally scheduled for July 25 at Minar-e-Pakistan. Asked about restrictions on holding rallies there, he said the party would continue regardless of obstacles, saying: “We will hold a rally no matter what.”
Lashing out at the ruling PML-N, Mir rejected its claims that Lahore had become one of the most developed cities in the country, arguing that even the areas surrounding the Sharif family residences lacked basic civic facilities.
He added that the PPP, with its growing popularity in Punjab, would create the necessary political leverage for the central leadership of the party to challenge its main rival in the province.
Responding to a question on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Mir sarcastically remarked that his party had stopped him from making comments on her, adding that the development allegations were based on mere “facade”.
He also said that the PML-N was the political product of a military dictator and argued that its style of governance continued to reflect those origins.
