Tug of war for Lahore PPP presidency

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is yet to decide on who will be crowned as the next president of its Lahore chapter, following the resignation of Aslam Gill, sources said on Wednesday.

The leadership vacuum has triggered a power struggle among party leaders, with different factions vying for control. The sources revealed that PPP Central Punjab President Raja Pervez Ashraf is pushing for Barrister Aamir Hassan to take the helm as the Lahore president. On the other hand, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza is backing Aslam Gill to reclaim his position.

Moreover, the Punjab governor is reportedly in favour of nominating Rehman Chan, the son of former Lahore PPP president Azizur Rehman Chan, for the post, the sources said.

Meanwhile, senior PPP leader Mian Ayub is actively lobbying for his own candidacy for the role.

According to party insiders, whoever is nominated as Lahore president will automatically become a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) under the party's constitution. However, the delay in naming a new president is stalling organisational efforts and demobilising party workers, according to some leaders.

As the internal struggle persists, the PPP has yet to prepare for the upcoming local body elections, while its rival, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), is already gearing up for the polls. Party members are concerned that the indecision could hinder the PPP's ability to mobilise its base and compete effectively in the elections.