Commitment reiterated: ‘PPP will secure rights of people of south Punjab’

Party to mend fences with disgruntled leaders, says Mehmood.

BAHAWALPUR: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) south Punjab president Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mehmood said on Tuesday that the party would secure the rights of the people of the region.

He was addressing party activists and reporters via telephone.  Mehmood eulogised former PPP south Punjab president Makhdoom Shahabuddin.

He said the party would continue to benefit from his experience. Mehmood thanked the party leadership for electing him to the post.

Mehmood said the party was the preeminent political force in the nation.

He said attempts had been made to derail the PPP but the people had seen through the propaganda.

Mehmood said the party would try to mend fences with disillusioned leaders and ensure that they returned to the party. He said all decisions would be made after taking party activists and officials in confidence.

A PPP official told The Express Tribune that former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani had advised co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to give Mehmood the post.

He said Shahabuddin had tendered his resignation following the development. Shahabuddin told reporters that co-chairman Zardari had tried to stop him from resigning but he was not in a position to continue at the post due to personal reasons.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.