May 23, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

OKARA, May 22: There has been grouping in the city PML-N organisation for the last five years. Interestingly, close relatives head the two groups in the party. Former state minister and district president Mian Zaman and provincial joint secretary Mian Munir lead the groups.

These differences came to surface about three weeks ago when a district workers convention was held in the last week of April at the residence of Mian Zaman where PML-N provincial chief Zulfiqar Khosa was the chief guest. He was reportedly aware of the differences and sent a three-member delegation, which included MNA Pervaiz Malik, before convention for reconciliation. But Mr Zaman flatly refused to reconcile on the occasion of workers convention as he had a bitter experience of a scuffle at his residence with the workers of Mian Munir group. He told the arbitrators that discussion on the row could be held after the convention and stopped Mian Munir group to come to his residence to attend the convention. Mr Zaman had a good workers convention at his residence.

After this, Mian Munir group managed a city workers convention on Sunday night where Mr Khosa was the chief guest with MNA Pervaiz Malik, women wing provincial general secretary Zakia Shahnawaz, former MNA Mian Abdul Mannan and Zaigham Husain Qadri. This convention was changed into a reception reportedly on the pressure of Mian Zaman group as it was said in a press release issued by the group’s information secretary, Manzoor Sipra advocate.

This reception was a rousing success and attended by more than 3,000 workers. It had clearly an edge over the convention held at the residence of Mr Zaman. The ‘good show’ managed by Mian Munir was recognised by the party’s provincial high ups. The activists raised slogans against the government, Gen Pervez Musharraf, lawlessness, etc.

Meanwhile, Mr Khosa said on the occasion that despite failure of first attempt of reconciliation between the two groups, “I would continue to struggle for the unification of party.”

He urged workers to spare time for the welfare of party. He asked them to activate party units at union council level to win general election.

He said there was no understanding in the Charter of Democracy on jointly contesting election.

He said the charter was not meant for bringing anyone into power but this is just to save the democracy and to bring the rule of law in the country.

The workers unanimously urged the government to arrange payment of arrears of Okara Textile Mills workers payable by the former owners.

Later, party workers Sheikh Salim and Sheikh Khalid served a dinner at their city residences, where PML-N district general secretary Syed Zahid Gilani, was also present.