HAFIZABAD - Rana Yousaf Wahid - Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmad claimed on Monday that the Pakistan People's Party along with its allies will give a tough time to the rivals in the upcoming general elections and predicted that Sharif Brothers will never come into power in the country.
Raja Riaz was addressing a press conference along with PPP Punjab Deputy General Secretary Dr Hasnat Ahmad Shah and All Pakistan Kharal Biradari President Rai Mehdi Khan Kharal during his visit to Hafizabad on the invitation of Kharal Biradari here. On the occasion, Rai Fayyaz Ahmad Kharal, nephew of late Rai Muhammad Shafih Kharal who had contested general elections from 1962 to 1997 announced joining the PPP.
Raja Riaz Ahmad and Dr Hasnat Ahmad Shah welcomed Fiaz Ahmad Kharal for joining People's Party and said that former PPP district president and MPA Malik Fayyaz Awan who had joined the PML-N was always honoured by the PPP which was unbecoming for him because his family remained associated with the party since 1997. He, however, congratulated Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif for "making" lotas and added that the PPP would bury lotacaracy in the country. They further said that the recent lota of Hafizabad would be broken by Rai Fayyaz Ahmad Kharal in the upcoming general elections. On the demand of Kharal Biradari, they said that they could not promise a party ticket to Fayyaz Kharal from PP-105 and said that it would be decided by the party high command. 
On the occasion, Raja Riaz Ahmad strongly condemned Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif for his incompetence for tackling the incident of burning of over hundred houses of Christian community and demanded his resignation.
Replying to a question, he alleged that Opposition Leader in National Assembly was "agent of agencies". Replying to yet another question, he said that the ruling party had not yet nominated the names for caretaker PM.
Raja Riaz lauded the ground-bearking of IP gas pipeline project and added that Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhatto had also taken historic and bold steps for the best interest of the nation and President Asif Ali Zardari today repeated the history by taking bold decision to start laying of IP gasline by ignoring warning of US.
It is pertinent to mention here that no PPP office-bearer of Hafizabad district was present at the function which clearly shows that they disapproved the visit of Raja Riaz and Dr Hasnat Shah.
Rai Mehdi Hassan Kharal President of Kharal Biradari Pakistan has declared that Kharal Biradari in the country would support the PPP Candidates in the country.
GROUNDBREAKING HAILED: Groundbreaking of historic Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline jointly undertaken today by President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and President of Ahmedi Nejad was widely hailed by a common man here.
They said that despite warning by US, the President of Pakistan has taken a bold and courageous decision in the supreme interest of Pakistan. They further said that though the decision of laying the IP gasline was belated and it should have been taken four years back yet this historic decision would go a long way in overcoming the energy crises which would ultimately pave the way for bettering socio-economic conditions in the country and also further cementing age-old brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran.