LAHORE, Dec 11: Punjab PPP President Shah Mahmood Qureshi reiterated on Monday that his party would sweep the next elections if they were free and fair. Addressing a workers convention organised by Dr Fakhruddin Chaudhry, he said the rulers of Punjab had failed to deliver and voters would throw them out through ballot.

Qureshi said the days of the Punjab chief minister were over, and the PPP would regain power in the country’s biggest province as a result of the next election.

Lahore president Haji Azizur Rahman Chan presided over the convention, which was also addressed by Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi, MNA Naheed Khan, provincial secretary-general Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, Zafar Masood Bhatty and Zakariya Butt.

Qureshi said he would hold public meetings in every zone of Lahore to mobilise the people.

Other speakers said Ms Bhutto would return to Pakistan before the next elections and would set a new record by becoming prime minister for a third time.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi also presided over a meeting of presidents of Bahawalpur and Sargodha divisions and discussed with them potential candidates the party could put up on NA and provincial seats in the next elections.

Irfan Abdullah and Malik Aziz submitted their recommendations for every constituency.

Now a meeting of the provincial executive of the party is due to be held at the party secretariat in Faisal Town on Tuesday (today).

Presidents of the remaining divisions will submit their recommendations before the executive.

According to information secretary Farzana Raja, preparations to receive Ms Bhutto on her return to Pakistan and party’s organisational matters will also come under discussion.

Secretary-General Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas and Abdul Qadir Shaheen also attended the Monday meeting.