PML-N leaders neglect foundation day

Published December 31, 2008

FAISALABAD, Dec 30: Differences among Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leaders and allied associations marred the party foundation day on Tuesday. Neither the Punjab law minister, invited as chief guest, nor did the party district president attend the function.

The 102nd foundation-day ceremony of the party was organised at the Tehsil Municipal Administration hall in which Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was invited as chief guest. He, however, did not attend the event and the committee had no option but to ask MNA Haji Akram Ansari to hold the chief guest seat.

Mr Ansari and two MPAs -- Khawaja Islam, and Malik Nawaz -- were among other elected representatives who were present.

The associates of former mayor Sher Ali also stayed away from the event.

Handful workers of the Muslim League Youth Wing and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) besides a few women workers attended the function.

MSF activists chanted slogans against each other and were about to scuffle over the announcement of an office bearer. The function was also disturbed when Mr Islam left the venue after delivering few words. It was announced he had to leave the ceremony for attending a funeral prayer.

After his departure, people started leaving the hall despite repeated requests from the management.

The event also turned into a fish market, when PML-N City President Mr Islam announced that Haji Ashraf, of Chak Jhumra, had served jail three times only for the party. A worker called it hypocrisy, saying a number of other workers from Jhumra had also sacrificed for the party and they should be hounoured.

However, Mr Islam snubbed him and asked him to be silent. The participants supported the 'dissident worker' thumping their benches.

After the scene, Mr Islam uttered a few words and left the venue. His departure packed the function and the chief guest had to leave without any speech.

Mr Khan said the law minister could not attend the function because of events in Lahore owing to the illness of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Similarly, he said the district president Safdar Rehman was also engaged somewhere in Lahore.

He said the difference of MSF activists would be resolved in two or three days.

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