Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) is facing cracks in its provincial set up with successful public meeting of Imran Khan at Minar-e-Pakistan on November 30. There were strong impressions among political circles that the PMLN would be the direct sufferer of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) popularity among masses.
However, it is not the PMLN but the PPP that is facing a direct threat from the popularity of Imran Khan. Shah Mahmud Qureshi has already joined the PTI, followed by another couple of party members in near future. It is worth noting that the anti-PPP political circles believe that PPP Punjab has played a vital role in making PTI Minto Park rally a success besides the PMLQ and the NGOs. Interestingly, the PMLQ has already suffered heavily on hands of PTI.
According to party sources, PPP Punjab is all set to reinvigorate its political strength in the province of Punjab after Ashura. According to them, the party has devised a strategy to this effect in line with the guideline of Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani who held detailed session with the party's provincial leadership last Saturday. They said the party would also negotiate with party dissidents, having clubbed with Shah Mahmud Qureshi against PM Gilani. These dissidents, busy in finalising forward block, are unhappy with the PM for being ignored in their respective constituencies. The party sources said President Zardari is likely to meet the members of the forward block soon to redress their grievances. He has already bifurcated the PPP into two factions ie the PPP Central Punjab and South Punjab. Rumours are also strong that the PPP Upper Punjab is also in the offing to meet the aspirations of party workers in Jhelum and surrounding areas.