RAWALPINDI, Dec 2: The caravan of Pakistan People’s Party workers accompanying Punjab president of their party Imtiaz Safdar Waraich to Gujranwala on Thursday led to traffic jam on Benazir Road leaving hundreds of commuters and motorists stranded on the road.

The Punjab PPP president Imtiaz Safdar Waraich was going to his native constituency Gujranwala for the first time after holding the reins of party in the province.

The caravan, led by Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Managing Director Pakistan Baitul Maal Zamurud Khan, State Minister Ayatullah Durrani and other local leaders, was passing through Benazir Bhutto Road to offer Fateha for the soul of slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto at her assassination site.

The rally started from Central Secretariat of the PPP. When it entered Rawalpindi at Faizabad intersection, it was received by Rawalpindi chapter of party workers.

Looking at the party flags, sloganeering and enthusiasm of workers, it seemed as if it was an election rally of the PPP.

“We are here to welcome our new party chief in Punjab. We have brought maximum workers from various parts of Rawalpindi in order to show our strength in the district,” information secretary of Rawalpindi city PPP Shujaat Haider Naqvi told Dawn.

City PPP President Amir Fida Paracha, member central executive committee (CEC) of the party Sultan Qazi and other office-bearers of the party were all on their toes for receiving the PPP caravan.

“I have been waiting for a bus for the last 40 minutes but still there is no transport due to the rush on Benazir Bhutto Road. I don’t know what purpose the rally would serve, but one thing is clear it has put general people in a lot of trouble,” Sajjad Noor, a passenger standing on bus stop near Rehmanabad said.

Later, the party leaders offered Fateha at the assassination site and left for Gujranawala.

GUJAR KHAN: The PPP workers accorded warm welcome to the newly elected president of Punjab chapter Imtiaz Safdar Waraich.

Giving a brief address to Gujar Khan party workers on GT Road, Mr Waraich said that the days of Shahbaz Sharif government in Punjab were numbered and claimed that the days were not far when a PPP backed government would be established in the province.