MUZAFFARGARH: PPP and PML-N leaders are facing problems in public mobilisation for the PDM rally in Multan on Nov 30.

PPP MNA Malik Raza Rabbani Khar has isolated himself mafter he tested positive for the virus. The announcement that PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was not coming to the rally was another cause for PPP workers’ disinterest in the rally. The party, however, announced on Friday that Aseefa Bhutto Zardari would attend the event while Bilawal would speak via video link. Aseefa’s presence in the Multan rally may change the scenario.

Local PML-N leaders said their workers were not interested in the rally. The party held a workers’ convention for workers earlier this month where PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz was to participate but she skipped the event. This frustrated the workers. Moreover, they said they are not sure about her arrival to the Multan jalsa because of the death of her grandmother. PML-N leader said they were working overtime convincing the workers that Maryam had confirmed her participation in the rally at the behest of her father Nawaz Sharif.

Malik Mukhtiar, a diedhard PPP worker, said to this correspondent that the people were ready to attend the jalsa with MNA Khar but he was in quarantine in Lahore while no other leader was actively working on workers mobilisation.

Former PML-N MPA Hammad Nawaz Tipu and Ahmad Yar Hinjra said that the rally would be historic even though the administration was busy blocking roads with containers.

Another PPP MNA Mehr Irshad Sial said that massive turnout from Muzaffargarh was expected at the Multan rally. Local leaders of the JUI-F claimed that they would bring millions of people to the gathering.

PPP MNA Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmad Khan claimed that Muzaffarghar would prove its identity as mini-Larkana in the Multan rally as tens of thousands people would attend the PDM jalsa. He said that he had been assigned to attend the main PPP leadership in Multan but his family and workers from his constituency were working day and night to bring a big procession to Multan.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2020