PESHAWAR, Nov 30: The main function held on the occasion of 45th foundation day of Pakistan People’s Party was marred by a clash among party workers when they started raising slogans and beating up each others at the Governor’s House here on Friday.

According to insiders, it all started when provincial coordination secretary Syed Ayub Shah announced nomination of Malik Tahmas Khan and Ghazanfar Ali Khan as new president and general secretary, respectively, of Peshawar district.

Opposing abrupt nominations, the sitting district president, Israrullah Khan, and his supporters started shouting slogans against the party leadership and said that they would not accept replacement of old leaders. They said that the district level organisation had been working actively for strengthening of the party and replacement of the office-bearers was unwarranted.

On the other hand, supporters of Mr Tahmas and Mr Ghazanfar also started raising slogans in their favour and the situation turned from bad to worse when members of both the groups started beating up each others with fists, kicks and chairs. Two workers of the party were injured in the clash.

The workers asked the leadership to avoid taking such decisions which could create unrest among them. “It is wrong to replace active office-bearers. The leadership should focus on reactivating annoyed people in different districts,” they suggested.

On this occasion, a group of workers also shouted slogans of “chief minister Zahir Ali Shah”, but he snubbed them.

When the situation went out of control the stage secretary had to invite party’s provincial president Anwar Saifullah to control the charged workers. Expressing his anger over the ugly scene on the occasion of party’s foundation day, Mr Saifullah said that he would take stern action against those who violated the party discipline. He, however, assured the workers that their complaints would be redressed within 10 days.

He claimed that the party would come into power in next general election and redress all grievances of workers by providing them jobs. He said that elections would be held in next three months and it was duty of workers to accept the challenge and ensure victory of party candidates.

“Now, it is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s turn to get the slot of prime minister,” he claimed and added that all decisions would be taken in consultation with workers and party office-bearers. He said that the party would soon get control to appoint ministers, advisors and heads of different departments.

About award of tickets, Mr Saifullah said that the party’s divisional presidents had been asked to send names of candidates for provincial and national assemblies, which would be forwarded to co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

PPP provincial general secretary Mohammad Humayun Khan, health minister Zahir Ali Shah, provincial senior vice-president Azam Afridi and other leaders were also present on the occasion.

ABBOTTABAD: People’s Doctors Forum (PDF), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, observed the foundation anniversary of the PPP on Friday and renewed the pledge to continue mission of party’s founding chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto to strive for the country’s progress.

The PDF organised a function here at a local hotel. Speaking on the occasion, PDF provincial president Prof Nisar Khan said that the PPP had revived the Constitution of 1973, as had been promised by Benazir Bhutto. He also enumerated other achievements of the sitting PPP government.

Prof Nisar said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto not only served the masses as a prime minister, but sacrificed his life for democracy.

GHALANAI: Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Mohmand Agency, workers observed the party’s foundation day by holding a function here at Mohmand press club. PPP agency president Farooq Afzal, Fata vice-president Jangriz Khan and other leaders spoke on the occasion. They said that the PPP leaders and workers had rendered sacrifices for the cause of democracy.

They said that the present PPP government had ended militancy from the tribal belt. They said that President Zardari had extended Political Parties Act to Fata and made amendments to the FCR after 110 years, which was a big achievement.