Dressed for peace

LAHORE: The participant of a rally organised by the Pakistan People’s Party to condemn the Taliban insurgency brandishes a sword at The Mall on Friday. Daily Times:Saturday ,may 23,2009

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PPP peace rally shows 'disunity'

LAHORE - The PPP’s “peace-rally” at The Mall on Friday was reflective of disunity and lack of coordination among party’s rank and file.
The rally was taken out to support ongoing military operation in Swat and to express solidarity with Pakistan Army, but instead of serving the intended purpose, it ended up exposing PPP’s inner weaknesses.
Apart from being a poor show, exposing party leaderships’ inability to pull a greater crowd, the event also proved that PPP had become a disorganised force incapable of keeping party men united under one command.
Majority of PPP workers were seen moving in distinct groups instead of marching together behind their leaders, and that too maintaining greater distance from them.
PPP’s Punjab President Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan, General Secretary Sami Ullah Khan and party’s Lahore President Ch Asghar Gujjar led the rally, which started from Nasir Bagh and culminated at Chairing Cross. Punjab Governor, Salmaan Taseer was scheduled to address the rally at end point, but he did not turn up on the occasion till last.
Majority of party workers including some women workers was seen marching much ahead of the truck carrying party’s provincial and local leadership, showing thereby that they did not want to be identified with their leaders. They maintained a reasonable distance from them through out the journey from Nasir Bagh to Chairing Cross. Consequently, they reached the culmination point much earlier than the leaders who were presumably leading the rally. A group of party’s women wing led by PPP MPAs, Faiza Malik and Sajida Mir also did not mix up with rest of party workers on the occasion.

The Nation:May 23,2009