LAHORE (By Our Correspondent) – Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Punjab President Raja Pervez Ashraf has described the party’s planned rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on July 25 as a “test of the party’s dignity,” urging workers to ensure its success through unity, discipline and extensive public mobilisation.
He was addressing a ceremony organised by the PPP Lahore Division at its Johar Town office to review preparations for the July 25 rally, inaugurate the new PPP Lahore website and meet party office-bearers from across the city.
A large number of senior party leaders, office-bearers and workers attended the event, including Mian Shahid Abbas, Majeed Ghauri, Khurram Farooq, Ahmed Ghuman, Asjad Malik, Asghar Bhatti, Munir Dagra, Aamir Naseer Butt, Agha Taqi, Shahida Jabeen, Tahira Jalib Hassan Ashraf, Shahbaz Nadeem, Ahmed Raza Shah, Azeen Gulzar, Rana Tipu and Afraz Naqvi.
Earlier, Raja Pervez Ashraf received a warm welcome upon his arrival at the PPP Lahore office, where Lahore Division President Faisal Mir and General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat greeted him. Party workers showered flower petals and chanted slogans in support of the PPP leadership.
Website launched, membership update shared
During the ceremony, Imran Dogar briefed participants on the newly launched PPP Lahore website, stating that 66,946 party members had already been registered through the digital platform.
The website is aimed at strengthening communication with party workers, expanding organisational outreach and streamlining membership across Lahore.
‘Lahore’s response echoes across the country’
Addressing workers, Raja Pervez Ashraf said the enthusiasm displayed by party activists had convinced him that the July 25 rally would be a major success.
“When Lahore rises, the voice of the Pakistan Peoples Party is heard across the country,” he said, adding that the first step towards victory was unity, mutual respect and collective effort.
He urged every worker to spend the next two weeks mobilising supporters, asking them not to attend the rally alone but to bring family members, friends and colleagues.
“I, too, will participate in the rally carrying the party flag,” he said, adding that effective planning and teamwork would ensure that Minar-e-Pakistan was filled with PPP supporters.
The former prime minister also emphasised that true leadership meant taking everyone along and working collectively for the party’s objectives.
Faisal Mir outlines mobilisation plan
PPP Lahore President Faisal Mir said extensive preparations were underway, with convoys from all 10 towns of Lahore scheduled to converge at Minar-e-Pakistan on July 25.
He said each town had been assigned a target of bringing 10,000 workers to the rally, while 25 organisational committees had been formed to oversee preparations, logistics and mobilisation.
Mir also announced that party workers would celebrate President Asif Ali Zardari’s birthday by cutting a cake on the evening of the rally.
Leaders pledge strong turnout
PPP Lahore General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat assured the leadership that workers would not disappoint the party and expressed confidence that the rally would demonstrate the PPP’s renewed organisational strength in Lahore.
Senior PPP leader Majeed Ghauri said the party had regained momentum in the city under Raja Pervez Ashraf’s leadership and expressed confidence that slogans in support of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would resonate across Minar-e-Pakistan during the gathering.
He also announced plans to display PPP flags on 10,000 rickshaws across Lahore as part of the campaign to promote the rally.
Mian Shahid Abbas praised Faisal Mir and his organisational team for their efforts, describing the preparations as being carried out with exceptional dedication and commitment.
Workers from other parties join PPP
During the ceremony, several workers previously affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced their decision to join the Pakistan Peoples Party, with party leaders welcoming the new entrants into the organisation.
The July 25 gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan is expected to be one of the PPP’s major political events in Punjab as the party seeks to strengthen its organisational presence and mobilise supporters in the province.
