Supporters frustrated as PPP fails to save face in Lahore

LAHORE: Despite being one of the largest political parties of the country, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Wednesday, owing to the negligence of party leadership, failed to save its face in Lahore.

Not only were PPP polling camps, banners and panaflexes missing across the city during the electioneering of all other parties, it also failed to appoint its polling agents at any of the stations.  PPP once used to enjoy a strong foothold in the city, but in 2018 general elections, it seemed destined to get the least number of votes. There was some show in Samina Khalid Ghurki’s constituency NA-132 where she cast her vote at the Padhiana polling station.

It is pertinent to mention here that PPP fielded candidates on all national and provincial assembly seats in Lahore but its candidate Chaudhry Zaheer in NA-120 withdrew his nomination in favour of PTI’s Naumana Qaisar. During the recent by-elections in NA-120 in 2017, PPP got the least number of votes against PML-N’s Kulsoom Nawaz. PPP’s Faisal Mir only got 1,414 votes in the previous NA-120. The PPP was non-existent in the election fever that had gripped the city.

Frustrated by the sudden dismal performance of the party, PPP voters and supporters are now speculating if the leadership would ever be able to revive the party in Lahore. PPP supporters on Wednesday were also seen cursing the party leadership after witnessing how disinterested it was to leave its mark in the provincial capital.

Luqman Butt, a once diehard PPP supporter was highly frustrated and came hard on the party leadership.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, he said, “I have never seen such lethargy on part of the party leadership in Lahore. I came here to cast my vote but I am not going to do it now. I am going home.” But while a majority was seen disappointed of the PPP’s electioneering, some said they would stand by the party no matter what happened.

Muhammad Nasir, a resident of NA-125, said he was a staunch supporter of the party and had always cast his vote in PPP’s favour. “I have no concern whether the party wins or loses.  I have supported the party for decades as I have an ideological affiliation with it. We had nine votes and my entire family voted for PPP.”