PPP's workers' Lahore convention hits a snag as district administration withholds permission

Lahore PPP president Faisal Mir says he will stand his ground even if it means being arrested

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The Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) plans to hold a workers' convention at the Greater Iqbal Park on July 25 suffered a setback on Friday after the Lahore district administration stopped preparations for the event, stating that the party had not obtained written permission.

The move came after the party had already erected a stage and made extensive preparations at the venue, with workers scheduled to gather on Saturday and later celebrate President Asif Ali Zardari's birthday on July 26.

The district administration has sought an explanation from the PPP leadership about the use of park premises without formal approval.

The Express Tribune reached out to Lahore PPP President Faisal Mir about the matter, who claimed his party proceeded with the arrangement “after receiving assurance from the Punjab Chief Minister's Office”.

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“I was told that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had no objection to the convention and she had approved the event,” he stated.

“Based on this assurance, we began preparations for the event at the Greater Iqbal Park," Mir added.

The Lahore PPP president then alleged that the district administration intervened and stopped the workers after nearly 14 hours into the preparation of the event.

Mir said he will stand his ground even if it meant being arrested.

On X, he said, "The Punjab government has restricted access to Minar-e-Pakistan to prevent our workers' convention, while trucks carrying chairs and other equipment have also been stopped," adding that despite that, they remain determined to hold the workers' convention "in a peaceful manner" under all circumstances.

Mir further stated that the PPP hoped that "in respect for democratic traditions", the issue would be resolved immediately.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, the Chief Minister's Office declined to comment on whether the chief minister's principal secretary had conveyed approval for the event.

Meanwhile, a senior police official, requesting anonymity, said police had sought clarification regarding the event from the district administration after learning that preparations were under way at the venue.

He said they were subsequently informed that no written permission had been granted, following which the deputy commissioner took notice of the matter.

Lahore PPP Deputy Information Secretary Ahmad Rehman Ghuman posted a video on X, showing party workers communicating with police officials at the park, while the caption demonstrated a strong resolve to hold the event.

In another social media post, Ghuman showed a video of the stage erected by the workers along with seating arrangements for the convention.

A day earlier, PPP workers entered Greater Iqbal Park and began constructing a stage sans written approval from the district administration. At the time, officials did not stop the preparations.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, district administration officials said PPP would not be barred from holding the convention if there is no fallout between the party’s and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership.

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Sources within the PPP acknowledged that the party had proceeded without written permission, maintaining that verbal assurances from the Chief Minister's Office were sufficient to start preparations.

Mir had said that Punjab CM Principal Secretary Sajid Zafar Dall informed him that the chief minister had approved the event, after which the party workers gathered and started preparations on Thursday.

He said police had also been informed about the gathering.

The party planned to erect a 100-foot-long and 24-foot-wide stage. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was expected to address workers via video link on July 25, while Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Hassan Murtaza and Qamar Zaman Kaira were also scheduled to attend the convention.

President Asif Ali Zardari's birthday was to be marked the following day with the cutting of a 24-foot cake.

Sources said the district administration had advised the PPP to obtain formal approval before proceeding.

Officials were reportedly concerned that granting permission to the PPP could complicate the handling of similar requests from other political parties, including the PTI, which has also sought permission to hold a gathering in Lahore on August 5.