GUJRAT: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has begun its reorganisation at the district level and ‘workers conventions’ are being held in various parts of central Punjab in this connection.

Such a convention has also been scheduled for July 9 (Tuesday) and 10 at Hafizabad where former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, senior party leaders Chaudhary Ahsan Iqbal, spokesperson Maryam Aurangzaib, Saira Afzal Tarrar and other leaders will address the party workers.

The party also held a workers’ convention in Attock on Monday.

Mr Ahsan Iqbal, the central secretary general of the PML-N told Dawn by telephone that the workers conventions and reorganisation of the party had been ordered by the party’s Quaid Nawaz Sharif. As per the plan, he said, a team of senior party leaders would visit various parts of the country to interact with the local leaders and listen to their point of view.

He said though initially the worker’s conventions had been planned by the Punjab chapter of the PML-N, but after the arrest of the party’s provincial president Rana Sanaullah, it was decided that a team of central party leaders would attend these events.

Asked whether the plan was aimed at preparing the workers for any agitation, Mr Iqbal said it was a “routine activity” as mostly the political parties focus on strengthening their local chapters while in the opposition.

He added that after listening to the workers at these conventions, the PML-N leadership would get a clear picture of the issues at the local level which would help it in making decisions for the party’s reorganisation.

He said that for taking political decisions and adopting strategies with regard to national politics, the PML-N leadership had already constituted a ‘Rahber (guidance) Committee’.

He said after the arrest of Rana Sanaullah, the Punjab secretary general of the party, Mr Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, had been asked to take charge of the office and look after the ongoing campaign aimed at strengthening the party at district level.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2019