LAHORE: Manzoor Wattoo on Tuesday resigned from his position of Pakistan Peoples Party's central Punjab president, saying after the party's defeat in Punjab, he could not justify continuing to hold the post.

He added that he had sent his resignation to the party’s leadership.

Okara defeat

In the May 11 general elections, Wattoo lost NA-146 (Okara-IV) to Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N).

Wattoo had won from the constituency in 2008 elections as an independent candidate after which he joined the PPP.

He was made PPP’s central Punjab president in October 2012. Wattoo also served as federal minister for Kashmir affairs during the 2008-2013 PPP-led coalition government.

Wattoo is known for being a master of the art of carving his way out to important positions in nearly every setup and his elevation to the PPP’s command in Punjab was a surprise to many among the party’s provincial cadre.

The Punjab debacle

It is pertinent to mention that PPP faced a near wipe-out in Punjab.

In upper Punjab its various luminaries such as Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira had lost.

Even newer entrants to the party who were seen to be secure in their constituencies such as Firdous Ashiq Awan and Wattoo failed to secure National Assembly seats.

South Punjab too surprised everyone, with the PPP performing poorly in the region.