KOHAT, Nov 30: The 44th founding day of Pakistan People's Party here on Tuesday was marred by division, as PPP stalwarts held two separate functions.

Speaking at the key function, MPA Syed Qalbe Hassan said that there was no threat to the present government and the sinister elements trying to weaken the party would be crushed. He said that no party other than the PPP was capable of running the government because it cared for the common man's interests.

The function was held at the District Council Hall with Mr Hassan as chief guest. It was attended by district PPP president Abdur Rauf, secretary general Manan Bangash, president of People's Lawyers Forum Suhail Qureshi advocate, president of district women wing Sameena Khurram and workers.

Mr Rauf highlighted the achievements of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and said that the founder of the party replaced the inhuman laws imposed by dictators from time to time with a unanimous 1973 Constitution.

He said that PPP was the only popular party of all the four provinces and Azad Kashmir. He said that despite all impediments created in the way of PPP government the party leadership would pull the country out of crisis and establish rule of people.

A dissident group of the PPP, led by Nadir Khan Khattak and Fareed advocate, held a separate function at Town Hall to celebrate the party's founding day and criticised the leadership for ignoring the PPP workers of Kohat.

Mr Khattak demanded jobs for the party workers and said that the PPP leaders had been ignoring its workers. Syed Mazahir Hussain, Najaf Ali, Dildar Masih, Zar Badshah and Muhammad Riaz eulogized the sacrifices of the Bhutto family for democracy.

Mr Riaz accused the PPP leaders of violating party discipline and advised them to materialise their election promises to remove the increasing feeling of deprivation among the masses.