PPP workers hold rallies across Pakistan
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Staff Report
Source - Daily Times
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/FAISALABAD: Tens of thousands of Pakistan People’s Party workers across the country expressed solidarity with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
In Islamabad, students from the Quaid-e-Azam University, the Arid University and the Federal Urdu University took out a rally from the National Press Club to China Chowk. The protesters said conspiracies were being hatched against the creation of new province. “Gilani is the voice of Saraiki people and it cannot be made silent,” they added.
Saraiki Students Alliance Chairman Abu Bakr demanded that the government bring forth constitutional amendment bill for creation of Saraiki province.
Islamabad PPP Women Wing President Nargis Malik and scores of other workers observed a token hunger strike outside the Supreme Court. Federal ministers, state ministers, senators, MNAs, MPAs and representatives of lawyer forums, People’s Youth and Labour Bureau expressed solidarity with the women wing. Separately, the PPP workers and supporters protested at the Lahore Press Club. PPP Punjab Secretary Mian Azizur Rehman Chan and PPP Lahore President Samina Khalid Ghurki led the protest.
The protesters were carrying banners, placards and party flags. They shouted pro-Gilani and anti-judiciary slogans. They also backed President Asif Ali Zardari.
A good number of women workers also joined the protest while PPP Minority Wing and Ulema Wing members were also present. Women lawmakers Samina Ghurki, Faiza Malik and Sajida Mir also joined the protest.
Meanwhile, PPP workers in Faisalabad arranged a rally to express solidarity with the premier. The rally started from Zila Council Chowk and culminated at Ghanta Ghar. Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmad addressed the protesters there. Riaz said the PM would not leave his office and the PPP-led government would complete five years. He appealed to workers, activists and office bearers of the PPP to remain calm, peaceful and avoid damaging public or private property. PPP Faisalabad President Rana Mushtaq, Vice President Kamran Dar, CEC Member Nayyar Hasan Dar, former minister Badruddin Chaudhry, former MPAs Raja Safdar Husain and Asghar Ali Qaisar were also present.
Separately, PPP workers in Sargodha took out a rally to express solidarity with the PM. PPP leaders Hamid Nawaz, Haji Mateen Ahmad, Javed Amjad, Ajmal Shaheen and Qamar Iqbal led the rally. Hamid and Haji Mateen said: “We are proud of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who, following the path of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, has set another example of sacrifice for the constitution and institutions.”
Meanwhile, party workers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held rallies to pay tribute to the premier. Workers took to streets in Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, DI Khan and Mohmand Agency. They shouted slogans in favour of the premier. In Peshawar, the main rally started from main Hashtnagri Chowk and culminated at the Peshawar High Court.