PPP leader blasts PML-N’s ‘fascism’

Faisal Mir decries Punjab govt for not allowing his party to celebrate Zardari's birthday

LAHORE:

A PPP leader has sharply criticized the PML-N-led Punjab government and its president, Nawaz Sharif, for refusing to allow the PPP to hold a celebratory event at Lahore's Greater Iqbal Park for President Asif Ali Zardari's 69th birthday.

The dispute, which could escalate into a full-blown confrontation, began when PPP leader Faisal Mir requested the deputy commissioner of Lahore and later the Punjab government to permit him to hold an event near Azadi Chowk to celebrate Zardari's birthday as "The President Day."

Mir took to social media, appealing to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz with a video showing containers lined up near the chowk, stating that it was not a political event. Despite this, the PPP was denied permission and warned of consequences if it proceeded with the event without authorization.

Frustrated by the response from the PPP's ally in Punjab, Mir held a press conference on Wednesday to criticize Maryam Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif, and the PML-N.

He said the PML-N should remember that if not for President Asif Zardari, Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif would be behind bars instead of Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan, and Nawaz Sharif would be living in his son's flat in London.

Mir described Nawaz Sharif as an absconder who fled the country after signing an agreement with military dictator Musharraf. He credited PPP leader Benazir Bhutto with bringing Sharif back and allowing him to resume his political career following her martyrdom.

According to Mir, the PPP has supported the PML-N since 2014, when the PTI staged a long sit-in against the PML-N government. "But they are like Brutus, who has always backstabbed the PPP," Mir claimed.

He also criticized Nawaz Sharif for challenging the PPP government in the memogate scandal despite signing the Charter of Democracy, calling Maryam Nawaz's behavior a reflection of her father's fascism.

Despite being denied permission, Mir vowed that the PPP would proceed with the event regardless of the consequences and urged party leaders across Punjab to hold similar events. He stated that the Lahore party would not only go ahead with the event but would also surrender to authorities if necessary.

PPP sources claim that this incident was part of a broader pattern of discontent. When President Asif Zardari arrived in Lahore, CM Maryam Nawaz neither went to the airport to receive him nor followed standard protocol by visiting him. One leader, speaking anonymously, acknowledged dissatisfaction with Mir's press conference but noted that criticizing him outright was difficult as he was advocating for Zardari's birthday event. It created a Catch-22 situation for the party. Qamar Zaman Kaira was approached for comments but he said he was unaware of the situation. Another PPP central Punjab leader, Hasan Murtaza, also stated that he was not informed about the episode.