A longstanding wish of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Punjab was granted on Sunday when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani gave a nod to five licences of prohibited bore (PB) weapons for each party executive council member, like party MPAs, and allowing the use of five percent development funds with party office-bearer’s consent. The prime minister made the decision while chairing a meeting of the PPP Punjab executive council on Sunday at the Governor’s House. Per the move, PPP MPAs would be able to spend five percent of the development funds provided to them by the federal government on projects highlighted or suggested by PPP provincial office-bearers.
Party sources told Pakistan Today that Gilani, who is also the PPP vice chairman, intended to boost the effectiveness of the party hierarchy in Punjab, which was being damaged owing to absence of incentives for its voters and party stalwarts.
The sources said Gilani categorically said that the PPP had miserably failed to project the performance of its government and it happened because of a lose grip of party office-bearers. He, however, announced on the occasion that 2012 would be the year of party workers. The prime minister told the party leadership that the government was safe and secure and public meetings of Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi were arranged by specific quarters to give them room to play.It was also decided that the PM would meet PPP Punjab leaders twice a month. The prime minister also instructed the PPP Punjab leadership to hold public gatherings in all six divisions of the province, while PPP Kasur leaders were directed to arrange a massive public gathering in their district within the next two weeks.
Party sources said Gilani told Chaudhry Manzoor of Kasur to arrange a major show of power for the PPP in Kasur, as the departure of former foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali from the PPP had left a vacuum that needed to be filled.
The PM also decided to address the party workers’ convention scheduled in Lahore on January 21.
He announced converting the University of Engineering and Technology being established in Sahiwal into an information technology university.
Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Asif Hashmi’s close aide Rai Muzzammal asked the PM to confer senate ticket on Hashmi. However, the PM tactfully refused the request, saying the department under Hashmi’s control was 10 times more important than being a senator.
