LAHORE, Sept 12: Leaders and workers of the PML-QA labour wing protested at the residence of Mian Muhammad Azhar on Thursday to register their resentment for having been ignored in the selection of candidates for the national and provincial seats.

Wearing black armbands and led by their central president Faqir Husain Bukhari, they started beating their chests in the presence of the PML-QA president and also raised slogans. They also handed over their resignations to Mian Azhar.

Some of the slogans meant that despite all their negative points, the Sharifs were better leaders than the ones now running what is called the king’s party.

The labour wing leaders had sought tickets for two NA and five provincial seats. No applicant was accommodated.

Later, Faqir Husain Bukhari gave 24 hours to the party leadership to accommodate the labour wing applicants or face an undefined negative reaction.

Speaking at a news conference at the Muslim League House office of Mian Azhar, he ruled out the possibility of the labour wing leaders and workers leaving the party.

Firzana Ikram, general-secretary of the Aziz Bhatti Town organization, said she would immolate herself in case the labour wing’s demand was not met.

“Our workers are very emotional, they can do anything,” Mr Bukhari warned.

Syed Khadim Husain Bukhari, general secretary of the labour wing, Nazar Baloch of Sheikhupura, Javed Nisar Bajwa, Irfan Abid, Javed Bhatty, Mian Anwar, Shabbir Ahmed Bhatty, Raja Ghulam Mustafa, Sadia Qasim and Perveen Akhtar were among the several office-bearers present at the press conference.

While sitting on Mian Azhar’s chair, Faqir Bukhari told a questioner that many wing leaders were willing to resign from their offices to register their protest.

Mian Azhar, he said, was a candidate from a Sheikhupura seat for which he (Bukhari) had sought a ticket. He indicated that he would work to have the PML-QA president defeated from that constituency.