LAHORE, March 20: Organizational changes had been made in the city chapter of the PPP, Lahore president Mian Misbahur Rahman said on Saturday.

The number of city zones had been increased from 18 to 25 in accordance with the raise in number of the provincial assembly seats of the city, he told newsmen.

Four district zones, each comprising at least three National Assembly constituencies, had also been formed to bring the Lahore's setup at par with other districts, he added.

Punjab president Qasim Zia, central and provincial information secretaries Altaf Qureshi and Naveed Chaudhry, respectively, besides Haji Azizur Rahman Chan were also present.

Misbah Rahman said that chairperson Benazir Bhutto had finalized the names of presidents of these district and city zones from the list which contained three nominations for each office.

Names of the office-bearers are: Zafar Masud Bhatti, district zone-I (NAs 118, 119 and 123); MNA Samina Ghurki, district zone-II (NAs 122, 124, and 130); Haji Muhammad Asghar, district zone-III (NAs 120, 121, 126); and Rana Ashaar, district zone-IV (NAs 125, 127, 128, and 129).

He also said that MPA Samiullah Khan had been appointed as new secretary-general of the city PPP.

Answering a question, Qasim Zia said recommendations for the two National Assembly seats vacated due to the death of Abdus Sattar Laleka and resignation of Zafar Warraich in Bahawalpur division were likely to be finalized by Sunday by the local organization of the party.

He said that joint candidates of the PPP and the PML-N in local body bypolls would be fielded from the ARD's platform.

He, however, hoped that the formula adopted in the last bypolls would also be carried out this time.