LAHORE, Jan 19: While the Pakistan People’s Party Punjab general council meeting on Monday turned out to be an anti-PML (N) show, a PPP stalwart maintained that President Asif Ali Zardari knew the problems of legislators and workers, and any ‘move’ to change power equation in the province will only be initiated on the co-chairman’s direction.

Three provincial and as many state ministers, besides over 100 MPAs and a good number of party office-bearers and workers from across the province, attended the meeting at the Alhamra Arts Council.

Senior Minister Raja Riaz, who was conspicuous by his absence, later told Dawn that he could not attend the meeting owing to unavoidable circumstances, adding, however, he had joined his colleagues at the closing moments.

Commenting on the growing dissatisfaction among the PPP legislators and workers with the PML-N for not being accommodated even when their complaints were ‘genuine’, Riaz said the issue had been in the knowledge of President Zardari and the party in the province would follow his (Zardari’s) direction on every matter. “The president has asked me there should not be any complaint against the PPP leadership in Punjab.”

Though focus of most of the speeches was on the PPP’s sacrifices and contribution to democracy and strengthening the party, there were also exponents of the on-going ‘bumpy’ relations between the two coalition partners (PPP and PML-N) in Punjab.

The PML-N-led Punjab government drew flak from many a speaker, who were of the view it was working on an agenda of ‘pushing the PPP against the wall’, at least in the province.

‘Emerging cracks’ in the PPP also came under discussion at the meeting which was quick to adopt a resolution condemning what it called the efforts to create a rift in the party ranks.

The meeting also unanimously adopted a few more resolutions, one being about reposing full confidence in the leadership of President Zardari who was lauded for his ‘wisdom and political acumen’. Vowing to follow the philosophy of the late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the participants resolved to strengthen democracy in the country no matter what it took.

While appreciating the federal government’s performance, they were very critical of the Punjab government, especially for its failure to maintain law and order in another resolution they adopted. They also called for the arrest of those involved in the murder of PPP Sangla Hill president Malik Tariq Awan.

The participants also held the provincial government responsible for its ‘tussle’ with Governor Salmaan Taseer, especially on the issue of Nazims. “The governor is performing his duties under the ambit of Constitution.”

PPP-Punjab President Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan said the party would be strengthened in the province and workers be given jobs, especially in the Benazir Income Support Programme. The People’s Students Federation was also being reorganised and its members would only be students. He said the PPP would continue to press the PML-N for its ‘due share’ in the provincial government.

State Minister Ghulam Farid Khatia criticised the forces working against the PPP. “Such forces had met failure in their efforts during the last three decades and they would not succeed in days to come. Conspiracies are being hatched in Punjab against the PPP, and even some of the party ‘friends’ are involved in it,” Mr Kathia said. He urged the PPP leadership to expose ‘such snakes in grass’ who, he said, were secretly working against party interest. He asked the party workers to remain united and enable the PPP to form its government in Punjab. He also criticised the elements dreaming of mid-term elections. “If this happens the PPP will be victorious in Punjab too,’ he, however, added.

MPA Qasim Zia also stressed the need to get due power share for PPP in Punjab and warned that the provincial government might not sustain if it did not give respect to the PPP workers. “Those giving dates for a long march should not forget that the PPP could arrange dozens of such marches,” he claimed.

The participants also passed resolution against the Israel’s aggression in Gaza and urged the so-called super powers to stop Israel from committing further atrocities in the region. They also asked the government to make efforts to promote peace with India as cold war between the two neighbours was not in anyone’s interest.

Later, at a press conference, PPP-Punjab general secretary Samiuallah Khan and information secretary Dr Fakhruddin said the PML-N leadership must understand the political acumen of President Zardari who wanted to take all parties on board and did not want any confrontation. “The PML-N must not forget that it does not have the kind of mandate it had in 1997, especially in Punjab.” The PML-N, he said, was quick to remind the PPP of its promises but did not keep its own.