Half-hearted invitations: Bilawal ‘not convinced’ over Punjab tour plans

PPP’s south Punjab leaders lobbying for a tour. Central Punjab leaders say they are not ready

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders in the Punjab have failed to convince party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to tour the province for now.

PPP insiders told The Express Tribune that Bilawal, who recently visited Islamabad, was considering changes in the Punjab leadership.

“Bilawal is willing to tour the province and meet all party workers. However, the Punjab PPP leaders have not come up with a convincing plan for his tour. Half-hearted invitations are extended to him and he does not want to come to Lahore and hold just drawing-room meetings,” a senior PPP leader told The Tribune.

“We expected that he will visit Lahore before his mother’s death anniversary. However, due to poor planning on part of Punjab leaders, Bilawal had to postpone the visit,” he said.

“The PPP’s performance in the Punjab has been pathetic. In the local government elections, the party showed dismal results. There were some gains only in Rahim Yar Khan and Lalamusa. Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood is proposing that Bilawal start his tour of the Punjab from Rahim Yar Khan and then lead processions across the province. However, except some office bearers from south Punjab, no one has shown eagerness to organise this,” another leader said. Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood said he was ready to welcome Bilawal and host PPP processions in Rahim Yar Khan any time.  “If the chairman comes to our district, I can guarantee that people will come in good numbers to listen to him and catch a glimpse of him,” he said. “Even those who enjoyed top ministries in the PPP-led government are not able to organise processions. In such circumstances, it may not be wise for the chairman to tour the province,” said another PPP leader. PPP Central Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo was optimistic about Bilawal’s visit to the Punjab. “He has confirmed his participation in an event in Lahore in January. The Ameer Begum Welfare Trust will organise a mass-wedding more than 50 couples. Bilawal has agreed to be the chief guest at the ceremony,” he maintained.

He said that PPP support was intact in central Punjab and a large convoy of PPP workers was leaving to participate in the death anniversary ceremonies of the slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Baksh.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2015.