PESHAWAR, Oct 16: The dissolution of provincial and district organisations of Pakistan People's Party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has triggered hectic lobbying by ministers, MNAs, MPAs and former office-bearers to get important slots of their choice in the party's new setup.

Since the appointment of Senator Sardar Ali Khan as provincial PPP president about a month ago, several party stalwarts have been publishing advertisements in the media congratulating the new leader to get his sympathies and favour for winning nomination for any important seat in the party setup at the provincial or district level.

It has been observed that majority of these elected representatives never lose a day to show up at the residence of the new provincial president and escort him during his visits to different areas and meetings with the party workers.

The statements of Sardar Ali concerning nomination of new party office-bearers on merit, meanwhile, have created a hope among the annoyed activists.

In the past, it was observed that there was lack of coordination among different sister organisations of the party. There were reports that party's women wing President MNA Asma Alamgir had no coordination with former provinicial president Zahir Ali Shah.

However, she has recently held a meeting with the new president and assured him of her support in the party's reorganisation. Similarly, it seems that the People's Youth Organisation and People's Students Federation also don't have consensus leaders. The protest demonstration by PYO workers on the occasion of a recent visit of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to Peshawar showed their simmering differences with the party leadership.

The party has also failed to appoint a regular and active spokesman in the province so far. Though provincial minister Liaquat Shabab has been assigned the duties, media persons always complain that he is in the habit of avoiding even their phone calls.

A source close to Senator Sardar told Dawn that the PPP provincial president had the full authority and backing of party's co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to appoint anyone on any provincial and district level seat. However, presence of sycophants around him and the flattering advertisements may make it difficult for him to ignore anyone in the new list to be sent to Mr Zardari for approval.

The source, who also worked on an important party seat for several years, said that as per the PPP's policy, ministers, MNAs and MPAs could not be assigned party's organisational responsibilities as it often results in internal differences and in such conditions the party workers could not be kept united. He said that despite a clear policy several ministers were in the run for important slots and they might create problems if ignored.

The source claimed that former provincial general secretary and MNA Najamuddin Khan was also likely to be replaced as majority of the party workers were against him. He said that thousands of people in Dir had either parted ways with the PPP or were ready to say goodbye to the party and join Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf or Pakistan Muslim League-N if Najamuddin was re-assigned the general secretary slot.

A senior party leader, Syed Ayub Shah, who always remains active against a role for the ministers in party setup and raise forceful voice for the rights of workers, said that change was a must for the success of the party. He said that the new president was capable of running the party affairs as he also had the backing of Mr Zardari.

Mr Shah said that the disgruntled workers would support the new president for the future of the party. He said that ministers could not run the party, as in case of their failure the workers put the blame on the party.

At present, there is no PPP spokesman in the province and the senior leaders also avoid commenting on the party affairs. When asked about the party's internal politics, a number of leaders replied: “We should wait and see”. However, many believe that change of faces is essential to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.