RAWALPINDI: Rifts and fissures within the PPP’s Rawalpindi chapter remained apparent on the birth anniversary of former prime minister and the party’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on Thursday, with local leaders refusing to come together for the celebrations in spite of party directions.

A small event was hosted at the party’s Rawalpindi offices in Liaquat Bagh, in front of the Liaquat Memorial Hall, which the PPP Punjab Chapter general secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan and former regional coordinator Raja Imran Ashraf did not attend. They instead joined the event hosted by the Babar Jadoon group in Hazara Colony.

“We invited Mr Chan and Mr Ashraf to the celebrations [at the office] but they could not attend as they had commitments in Wah Cantonment,” said former PPP information secretary Shujaat Haider Naqvi, who belongs to the Amir Fida Piracha group.

Multiple events held across the city, local leaders refuse to celebrate together despite party directions

More than 300 people attended Mr Jadoon’s party at Hazara Colony, which turned into a public meeting with workers chanting slogans in favour of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chan said the party was committed in following the teachings of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and bringing the country on the path to development.

He said Bhutto had wanted to make the country an Asian tiger and that he was hanged for trying to unite Islamic countries and to make Pakistan prosperous.

“I am glad to see party workers in Rawalpindi and the country have been mobilised under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari. We will launch a movement against the government soon. A fake mandate and the Panama leaks issue have weakened the government,” he said.

He urged party workers to take to the streets when called on by the PPP leadership so that the party can bring about a socio-economic change.

Provincial leaders of the party attended an event organised by the district chapter of the party at a local hotel, just a few yards from the party’s offices. Some 150 workers and supporters attended the event which was arranged by Chaudhry Zaheer and Tauqeer Abbasi.

PPP Workers (PPP-W) also celebrated the birth anniversary of the former prime minister at its party offices on Murree Road. The event was arranged by Sheikh Masood and Malik Mazhar with 50 workers participating in the celebrations.

Seven more functions were held in various parts of the city and cantonment areas, including a major function at People’s Colony where Haji Mohammad Gulzar Awan said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a rare politician who sacrificed his life for strengthening the defence of the country.

Other speakers also paid tribute to their slain leader and said he was one of the most charismatic and renowned politicians of the country.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2017