Warraich vows to end groupings in party

LAHORE-The PPPs newly nominated Punjab President, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich said on Monday that he would galvanize the party in Punjab by removing groupings in consultation with party workers. Addressing a press conference at partys Faisal Town Secretariat, he said PPP will award tickets to workers in the forthcoming local bodies elections. He was flanked by PPPs Punjab Secretary General Samiullah Khan, Information Secretary, Dr Fakharuddin Ch, Deputy Secretary, Usman Saleem Malik, Finance Secretary, Aurangzeb Burki, Additional Secretary, Dr Hasnat Shah, Altaf Qureshi, and Hafeez Malik. Warrich said he had been tasked by partys top leadership to reorganise the party and remove groupings well before the coming elections. The PPP leader said that his party will form its government in Punjab after the next general elections, adding that PPP had not been able to form its government in Punjab since 1977, and this was the reason that party was facing problems to implement its manifesto. Replying to a question, he said that he would bridge the gap between the workers and the leadership by holding workers conventions at tehsil and district levels which would be addressed by partys provincial and federal ministers. He said he was ready to take along the angry party workers but no compromise will be made on matters of party discipline. On this occasion, he also announced to quit the office of the divisional president Gujranwala, saying he was against holding two party offices. He grilled Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for keeping several cabinet slots with himself. He questioned why he (Punjab CM) did not run the government through his cabinet. While asking Shahbaz to empower both PPP and PML-N ministers, he stressed that important portfolios like education and health should be allocated to legislators for smooth functioning of these departments. To a question about suspension of Naheed Khans party membership, Imtiaz said it was the right decision. He said difference of opinion within the party was something natural, but party men should express their reservations at party forums and not before the public.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt