Benazir’s anniversary: PPP workers dejected at not being taken to Naudero

Punjab leadership has asked workers to hold events at district level.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab workers are disappointed over their leadership’s decision not to attend Benazir Bhutto’s seventh death anniversary ceremony at Naudero, The Express Tribune has learnt.

“The anniversary of Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom is one of the most important occasions in the party calendar. She gave her life for the country and kept party workers close to her heart. Last year, Bilawal Bhutto had delivered a moving speech at the ceremony. This year, the party leadership has decided not to attend the main ceremony at Naudero. This has disappointed the PPP workers from the Punjab. A plan to take workers to Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh has also been dropped,” a PPP Punjab leader told The Express Tribune.



“There are only a few occasions when the central leadership and workers from all over the country are gathered at one place. The death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto is one such occasion. The party workers have been told this year that instead of travelling to Naudero, they should recite the Holy Quran and light candles to show solidarity at district level with the martyrs of Peshawar school attack. Rumors are circulating in the party that the decision has been taken because there are serious differences among the top PPP leaders of Punjab, who are trying to keep those under wraps,” a PPP worker, who has been with party for three decades, told The Express Tribune.

“I have been told by a senior leader that chairman Bilawal Bhutto will be participating in the main anniversary ceremony. He will be disappointed to learn that workers from the Punjab are not attending the event,” another PPP Punjab leader said.

PPP Punjab president Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo said that the decision had been taken at a party meeting that the anniversary would be observed at every district of the Punjab. “So the workers as well as leaders will stay in the province. We decided in the meeting that the observance of the martyrdom day will be held at the district level with Quran khawani and prayers. Candlelight vigils will be held for the Peshawar terrorist attack victims. The participants will also express their resolve to fight terrorism,” he said.

“President Asif Ali Zardari will preside over the main ceremony at Ghari Khuda Bux on December 27,” he said.

He said that a function would be held at the PPP Punjab Secretariat in Model Town. “PPP Punjab leadership, office bearers and workers will participate in the event,” he said. He said that a ceremony would also be held at the Liaqat Bagh Rawalpindi.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.