PPP tells office-bearers to gear up for polls

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) South Punjab President Syed Ahmed Mahmood on Saturday directed party office-bearers to complete organisational restructuring and membership down to the union council level at the earliest for the upcoming local government elections. Addressing a meeting of PPP Multan division, district and city office-bearers, he said the party would take part in the elections with full preparation and make public service the centre of its politics. He said local bodies were an important means of solving people's problems at their doorstep, urging party workers to start electioneering immediately. Speaking on the South Punjab issue, he said the people of the Saraiki region would get their rights and a separate province would be established in line with their long-standing demand. He said the people could not be denied their political, administrative and economic rights, and the PPP would raise their voice at every forum. "The day is not far when the dream of a separate identity and province will come true," he said. Ahmed Mahmood announced that workers' conventions would soon be organised all three divisions of South Punjab with the participation of the party's top leadership. He said the conventions would be aimed at direct contact with workers, review of organisational affairs and finalising the political and electoral strategy. Highlighting the economic situation, he said inflation, unemployment and economic hardship had made life difficult for the people. He said the government and all political forces must take practical steps to provide immediate and effective relief to the people who needed real relief, jobs and basic facilities rather than political slogans. Earlier, he visited the residence of MPA Mian Kamran Abdullah Maral to condole the death of his cousin Mian Faisal.