LAHORE, Aug 3: The Pakistan People’s Party failed to launch a protest drive against the PML-N’s Punjab government for not announcing the local body election schedule because the PPP’s provincial ranks were not ‘properly’ taken on board in this regard, Dawn has learnt.

Babar Awan, a close aide to President Asif Ali Zaradri, on behalf of the party’s provincial chapter had given a deadline of July 30 to the Punjab government for announcing the local body election schedule, warning of a strong protest, otherwise.

Awan, along with opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz, had also announced organising a local bodyrepresentatives’ convention in Faisalabad to kickoff the protest drive after the passage of the deadline.

However, the PML-N government took Awan’s warning lightly as, according to some analysts it was not seriously considering holding of local elections so far.

“Babar Awan gave the deadline without consulting the party’s provincial head, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, and other office-bearers. So when the issue of launching the campaign was discussed at the party meeting, Awan’s idea did not get any support,” a PPP leader privy to the development told Dawn.

“Mr Awan’s solo flight in Punjab got punctured for his miscalculation. Since he is close to the party co-chairman, he was confident that his words would be enough to activate the party’s provincial tier,” the PPP leader said.

A PPP office-bearer told this reporter that the party’s provincial chapter would have no qualms about launching the drive had it got direction from co-chairman President Asif Ali Zaradri in this regard.

“President Zaradri in fact did not give a go ahead to Safdar Warriach on the request of Babr Awan,” he said, adding that even otherwise launching a protest campaign in Ramazan was not a feasible idea. ‘Being a wise politician Mr Awan shouldhave known the fact that Ramazan is not ideal time for protests,” he added.

It is an open secret that Mr Awan has been tasked by the party leadership to take the Sharifs on. In Punjab, Awan has coordination only with Raja Riaz and Azizur Rehman Chan. He has no coordination with the party’s provincial leadershipwhich some feel is not in the party’s interest as the next election is approaching.

Mr Awan’s ties with Governor Sardar Latif Khosa are also not thought to be ideal as the latter was preferred over the former for the coveted post of Punjab governor.

Raja Riaz, however, defended Mr Awan’s words and said that a series of local body representatives’ conventions would begin soon after Ramazan.

“These conventions to be held across Punjab will force the PML-N to hold the election,” he said.