Infighting: Zardari walks out of meeting after PPP workers raise slogans against each other

Zardari says a Bilawal House will be established in Balochistan

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Monday walked out of a meeting at the Lahore Bilawal House in disgust after supporters of PPP former MPA Malik Ashraf Sohna and Punjab PPP President Manzoor Watto raised slogans against each other.

Zardari was holding meeting with the party's office bearers and workers from Sahiwal Division at the Bilawal House some PPP members from Okara started chanting slogans of 'Go Watto Go' outside. They alleged that PPP had been turned into Watto League. In response Watto’s supporters started chanting 'Go Sohna Go' slogans.

“There was a clash between Wattoo and Sohna and the supporters of both chanted slogans against each other in presence of the co-chairman. He showed displeasure on it and left ending the meeting earlier than scheduled,” a participant of the meeting told The Express Tribune.

Watto later told reporters that there had been a difference of opinion which had precipitated into sloganeering. Talking about those who raised slogans against him, he said it was culture of PPP that workers raise slogans. “Difference of opinion is the beauty of democracy and it has always strengthened PPP. There was some problem between two groups of PPP in Okara district and I will personally go there and work to reconcile them,” he added.

“Zardari will take interest in the reorganisation of the party at the union council level. Bilawal House here will remain open 24 hours of the day for the workers, they can come and hold political activities here,” he added.

Earlier, PPP co-chairman told party workers that he has decided to run Bilawal House in Lahore on the pattern of Bilawal House Karachi. It will remain open at all times for workers and political activities will continue.

Briefing the reporters about the meeting, Watoo said the former president had told the meeting that he along with party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will visit Lahore for an extended period after the October 18 rally in Karachi.

Advising his party workers to resolve differences among themselves, PPP co-chairman urged them to use their energies in rejuvenating the party.

Zardari further announced that a Bilawal House will be established in Balochistan.

The former president also briefed the workers and meeting participants on PPP’s Kashmir policy.

“Large size of Indian population will be a major hindrance in achieving sustainable economic growth for India. Smaller population of Pakistan and abundance of resources will help Pakistan beat Indian Economy,” he told party workers.

Expressing his grief over the demise of PPP leader Haji Mohammad Asif in Lahore, Zardari said Asif was one of the founding members of PPP and a former vice-president of PPP.