LAHORE: Continuing with its mass-contact drive, the Pakistan Peoples Party on Thursday held two meetings in the provincial capital for mobilising the people against loadshedding from May 4.

The PPP is going to set up a camp on Minar-i-Pakistan lawns from May 4 to copy Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who had done the same back in 2012 to protest against [the then] PPP’s federal government on loadshedding issue.

The first meeting was held at Karol Ghati where former Lahore chapter chief Azizur Rehman Chan was the organiser. The other took place at Rasoolpura, Raiwind, at the outhouse of Amjad Ali Jatt.

Qamar Zaman Kaira and Nadeem Afzal Chan spoke on the occasion. They announced setting up a camp outside Data Darbar on May 2 as a warm-up event for the May 4 camp on Minar-i-Pakistan lawns against loadshedding.Responding to reports of imposition of section 144 to check holding of political activities in Punjab, the PPP leaders announced that their May 4 protest plan would remain intact come what may.

They warned that if anyone tried to mistreat Jiyalas then the party could not be held responsible for any eventuality.

They alleged that Kashmiris were laying down their lives for Pakistan while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was hosting Indian businessmen, including Sajjan Jindal, at his Bhurban (Murree) residence at the cost of the Kashmiris’ sacrifices.

Addressing Imran Khan, Kaira said if the PTI chairman would not divulge name of the person who offered Rs10 billion for keeping quiet on Panama case then the cricketer-turned-politician would also be held as co-accused.

Nadeem Afzal Chan said the government was forced to impose section-144 when the PPP just started its campaign against it.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2017