RAWALPINDI: PPP workers in the city said they were disappointed that the party’s local leaders had not invited them to participate in the foundation day celebrations in Lahore.

Three small groups of the PPP’s local leaders travelled separately to Lahore on Wednesday, though they had been given clear instructions by the party leadership to bring with them as many workers as they could. These include former PPP Rawalpindi President Amir Fida Paracha, Babar Jadoon and Haji Gulzar.

“Those who have enjoyed benefits during the party’s five years in government were responsible for making arrangements for taking all the workers to Lahore,” said Nasir Mir, former opposition leader in Rawal Town Municipal Administration.

Talking to Dawn, he said that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had claimed that he had accommodated many local leaders in Rawalpindi during the party government and that it was time these leaders paid back.

Mr Mir said he too was not invited to go to Lahore for the celebrations and that local works had wanted to go, but most could not arrange for transport.

A long time PPP worker in the city, Sardar Nasir said most of the workers did not want to be under the leadership of those who had looked only after their own interests and not that of that of the party or of the workers.

He said that due to the differences among the local leaders, the workers had decided to not to party functions unless asked by the main leadership.

Mr Nasir said the co-chairman thinks that the few leaders in Rawalpindi who support him prove that he has representation in the city when the reality is that the workers do not accept Asif Ali Zardari or his sister as leaders.

Former special assistant to Benazir Bhutto and former PPP Rawalpindi president Rashid Mir said that in the past, the party would contact workers from all socio-economic groups and that now, only the wealthier workers were invited.

“The leadership’s materialistic approach is evident by how old and poor workers are being ignored,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2016