LAHORE – The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) top brass has shown willingness to address Evacuee Property Trust Board (EPTB) Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi’s reservations, as the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat contacted the irked party stalwart and asked him to withdraw his resignation, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The PPP leadership took serious notice of the issue and in order to retain the loyalty of an old stalwart, contacted Hashmi and assured him of addressing his grievances. According to PPP sources, President Asif Ali Zardari’s Secretary Rukhsana Bangash and PM Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani’s personal secretary telephoned Hashmi on Tuesday and asked him to withdraw his resignation. Both officials discussed with the PPP leader the reasons behind his resignation, sources said.
On behalf of respective quarters, they asked the EPTB chairman to continue serving, sources said adding that Hashmi was also asked to submit his reservations to the Presidency so that steps could be taken to review the issue in detail. They said that Hashmi was conveyed a message of President Zardari and asked to show patience and tolerance. The PPP leader was told that the party was passing through a critical phase and loyal workers were expected to resolve controversies by negotiations. From the PM’ side, Hashmi was conveyed that the federal government would give positive consideration to his reservations and would definitely resolve the issues he was confronting and the PPP ticket holder from NA-118 was asked to continue working, as his resignation would create problems for both the federal government and the party.
The EPTB chairman on Monday had threatened to resign accusing the federal minorities minister and secretary of interfering in the department’s working and gave a deadline until March 7 to the party leadership for resolving his complaints. On Tuesday, EPTB staff, Ayesha Degree College students and PPP workers held rallies in Hashmi’s favour and demanded non-interference of other officials on his working.
