Rift between Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and the General Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Jehangir Badar has heightened in the backdrop of Senate polls, party sources said here on Saturday. Reliable sources told Business Recorder that Badar had instructed the party workers to remove welcoming banners for the Punjab Governor during his recent visit to the locality of Karim Park, situated near Minar-e-Paksitan.
It may be noted that the Lahore PPP has organised a reception in honour of PPP provincial President Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan and the Punjab Governor was invited there as chief guest. Sources added that Badar also asked his supporters to avoid slogans in favour of the Governor in the event. The cold war between the two strong men of the party got visible on February 18 when the Federal Cabinet meeting held in Lahore.
The Prime Minister also held Punjab parliamentary party meeting at the Governor House on the occasion. Everyone was allowed to attend the meeting, except Jehangir Badar, who was refused entry along with his son. However, an immediate intervention of the Prime Minister was followed by the Governor's apology to Badar for mishandling at the gate of the Governor's House. Badar returned to the Governor's House accordingly.
Prior to this incident, party sources said, both Taseer and Badar were toeing different line of action on Senate polls in Punjab. According to the sources, the Governor was not only supporting the nomination of Aurangzeb Burki for Senate poll in Punjab, but also favoured voting instead of unopposed election of announced candidates. Badar, on the other hand, was working on the formula of unopposed election of Senate candidates and he visited Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in this respect.
The sources added that the Governor was also active on winning the loyalties of a good number of Pakistan Muslim League-Q members. Party sources said Badar, in a party meeting, had also criticised both Taseer and Burki openly for working against party line in the Senate polls.
Not only this, the party sources said, the provincial party leadership was also divided in Taseer camp and Badar camp. Reliable sources pointed out that both the party provincial leadership and the Governor were pursuing the agenda of an early change in Punjab.
This camp was also promoting Qasim Zia as next chief minister of the province. However, the central leadership of the PPP had intervened, and directed the provincial leadership as well as the Governor to stop campaigning for Qasim Zia as next chief minister.