By Rana Farooq Ashraf
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Central Punjab is currently facing a severe organizational crisis, where active and committed workers are being sidelined, while inactive and unrecognized individuals are being appointed to key positions. This approach has not only demoralized the party’s grassroots workers but has also caused serious damage to the party’s political credibility. This crisis is not the result of any external conspiracy; rather, it is the product of poor decisions made within the party.
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PPP is not merely a political party; it is a symbol of ideology, history, and people’s struggle. However, today in Central Punjab, the party appears weak, fragmented, and ineffective, primarily due to the poor strategy, personal biases, and continuous neglect by the provincial leadership. In particular, serious questions are being raised about the roles of the President and General Secretary of Central Punjab, whose mutual collusion has weakened the organizational structure.
Recent organizational notifications have caused significant disappointment among long-serving and dedicated party workers. Active office-bearers, ticket holders, and individuals who have consistently upheld the party in challenging circumstances were removed, while responsibilities were given to people with no connection to the constituencies or acceptance among workers. This practice is neither in line with organizational principles nor consistent with PPP’s democratic traditions.
In Gujranwala and Gujrat divisions—administratively separate units—as well as in Gujranwala and Wazirabad districts, controversial and inactive individuals were appointed to key positions with no real ties to the areas they were assigned. For instance, a person from Mandi Bahauddin was appointed as President of Gujranwala Division, while another from Wazirabad was made District President of Gujranwala, despite having no practical or political link to these districts. These decisions clearly demonstrate that organizational appointments were based on personal preference rather than ground realities.
Similarly, in districts like Pakpattan, Arifwala, Sahiwal, and Sialkot, long-serving workers were removed and replaced with new nominees, many of whom were openly rejected by the party’s grassroots. In Pakpattan, press conferences were held to protest these injustices, and appeals were made to Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to revoke the notifications. In Gujranwala, former General Secretary Ch. Irshad Ullah Sandhu led workers and ticket holders in protests, emphasizing that these decisions weaken PPP in Central Punjab.
In Sialkot, the situation was even more concerning. A strong, consensus-backed candidate, supported by five National Assembly ticket holders, the district organization, Tehsil Passroor, the Ladies Wing, and Daska Tehsil organization, was blocked from reaching the Chairman’s attention solely due to personal grudges. This approach has reinforced among workers the perception that decisions are being made based on ego and personal interest rather than consultation and merit.
All these incidents indicate that the organizational process in Central Punjab has not been transparent. Paper reports and superficial organizations have been used to conceal ground realities, misleading the leadership. The biggest victim of this approach has been the party’s workers, who today feel demoralized, powerless, and undervalued.
The true strength of PPP has always been its workers. Yet today, in Central Punjab, the same workers are questioning whether their sacrifices matter. If this approach continues, there is a serious risk that PPP in Punjab will become a nominal party, incapable of leading mass movements or presenting credible candidates for power.
It is now imperative that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari conducts an impartial and transparent review of the organizational situation in Central Punjab. A high-level committee should be formed to assess which office-bearers were removed, the basis for their removal, and the qualifications of those who were appointed in their place. This is the only path to protect the broader interests of the party.
Despite all these challenges, one fact remains clear: the PPP worker continues to look up to his Chairman with hope. Party workers are confident that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will take notice of this injustice, correct the mistakes, and once again restore PPP in Punjab as a dynamic, organized, and strong force.
For without its workers, PPP is nothing—and today, its workers remain steadfastly loyal to the party.
