PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Peoples Party workers celebrated the party’s 53rd founding day in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday with a renewed pledge to continue the struggle for strengthening democracy, constitutional supremacy and human rights in the country.

Besides, cake cutting ceremonies in different areas, two events were held at the Peshawar Press Club, where PPP city district president Zulfiqar Afghani, former lawmakers Rahimdad Khan, Najamuddin Khan, Ziaullah Afridi, and others spoke.

The speakers declared that the party had never compromised on its principles, rule of people and supremacy of parliament.

Cake-cutting ceremonies, functions mark party’s 53rd foundation day

They said the party had started nationwide struggle to achieve its past position. They expressed serious concern over the sacking of employees of Pakistan Steel Mills and other organisations, saying it was only the PPP that gave employment to poverty-hit people.

They said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had claimed to provide 10 million jobs to the people and construct millions of houses for the poor, but it had badly failed on its commitments after coming into power.

Office-bearers of the party’s Peshawar city chapter, including Zulfiqar Afghani, Tahir Abbas and Zulfiqar Awan, appreciated the party’s long struggle for welfare of the poor segments. They expressed concern over the increasing prices of daily use commodities, and warned that in case the government did not control inflation the people would march on Islamabad.

They urged the leadership to expel the opportunists who had occupied key posts in the party.

They recalled the sacrifices rendered by late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and other members of the Bhutto family, and urged the workers to step up efforts for fulfilling mission of the leadership.

A cake-cutting ceremony was held at the residence of Tariq Raheem, member of the party’s media committee, which was attended by office-bearers of the Peoples Students Federation and Peoples Youth Organisation.

Meanwhile, in separate statements, PPP provincial president Humayun Khan and MPA Ahmad Kundi paid tributes to the party leaders and workers for the services rendered for public welfare and strengthening of institutions.

They said the PPP leaders faced many hardships, but did not bow down to any pressure.

In Nowshera, a cake-cutting ceremony was held at the residence of party activist Mohammad Islam Khan, where Peshawar division president Liaquat Shabab, Mohammad Ilyas Khan and others paid tributes to the party’s slain leadership.

They said if came to power the PPP would reinstate all the sacked government employees.

In Lower Dir, the PPP leaders vowed to foil conspiracies to undo the 18th Constitutional Amendment and weaken democracy.

A function was held at the Timergara Press Club to observe the party’s 53rd foundation day. The party workers from all parts of the district attended the function. The participants cut a cake and offered prayers for the slain party leaders.

PPP district president Mehmood Zeb, information secretary Alam Zeb Advocate, former state minister Malik Azmat Khan, president Peoples Lawyers Forum Mohammad Salim, PYO representative Irfan Khan and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers paid tribute to the party founder late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his family for rendering matchless sacrifices for democracy. They declared that the PPP was against feudalism and capitalism and it always worked for welfare of the oppressed and the poor.

They said the party was founded to ensure rights to the labourers, peasants and industrial workers. The PPP leaders condemned the arrest of party leaders and workers in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020