GUJRAT: A formal function like a wedding turned into a political gathering with the arrival of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in Kharian on Friday.

The senior PPP leadership was in the town to attend the wedding of Punjab PPP President Qamar Zaman Kaira’s daughter. Mr Bhutto-Zardari allowed the people to make selfies with him and he spent all his time shaking hands with leaders and workers.

Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, federal ministers Khawaja Saad Rafique and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, PTI’s Shafqat Mehmood, provincial ministers from Sindh, senior parliamentarians and some religious figures were also present.

There was a strict security arrangement for the arrival of the PPP leaders. Mr Bhutto-Zardari’s chopper landed in Kharian whereas the plane of the Sindh chief minister landed landed at the Sialkot airport.

There was a heavy deployment of policemen along the main highway from Sialkot to Gujrat.

The one side of GT Road was completely closed for the traffic in the three kilometre area of the hall, and the vehicles continued moving on the other side of the national highway for four to five hours.

Mr Kaira introduced former MNA Rehman Naseer Marala from Kharian to him, the PPP chairman invited Mr Marala to rejoin the PPP. The Marala family had joined the PML-Q in 2002.

Earlier, the Sindh chief minister told reporters that the people talking about peace in Sindh, should first improve security in Punjab. He credited his provincial government with improving the security of Karachi.

He said the transfer of Sindh Inspector General AD Khowaja was not a big issue since transfers, postings of public servants was a routine issue.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah chose Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair’s statement for criticism where had commented on retired Gen Raheel Sharif. Mr Shah, however, praised the retired general, saying he had rendered great service for elimination of terrorism from the country.

He said the army in collaboration with the Sindh government played a vital role in bringing peace to the province.He warned the PML-N that it refrain from indulging in the affairs of the Sindh government.

Former federal ministers Manzoor Wattoo and Maula Bakhsh Chandio also spoke.

The other senior PPP leaders who attended the ceremony included Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Faisal Kareem Kundi, Akhunzada Chattan, Nayyar Bukhari, Saeed Ghani, Rehman Malik, Sardar Latif Khosa, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gull, Nazar Gondal, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Malik Hakmeen Khan, Marvi Memon (PML-N), Shazia Marri and Sameena Pagganwala and anchor persons Najam Sethi, Mujeebur Rehman Shaami, Kamran Shahid and Sami Ibrahim.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2017