In a hurriedly called meeting of the PAT Lahore, a decision was taken to start membership and reorganization campaigns in the country. The leaders of the Lahore chapter have been given the targets of reorganization of the party down to the union council level. As part of the membership campaign, the leaders have been given the task of the new membership of one hundred thousand till the conduct of the local government elections, whereas, in every Union council of Lahore, about 500 to 600 new workers will be added.
The participants of the meeting also exchanged greetings on the release of 92 PAT workers from jails. The meeting expressed its grave concern about the shortage of sugar and an increase in the prices of flour and incidents of street crimes. They also demanded the completion of the Ring Road according to the master plan and called for action against all those who are in hindering the process of construction.
The meeting was addressed by Mian Rehan Maqbool, Chaudhary Afzal Gujjar, Raja Zahid Mahmood, Arif Choudhary, Shafaqat Mughal, Shoaib Tahir and Malik Muhammad Ameen.
Addressing the meeting, Mian Rehan Maqbool said that without the local bodies institutions, the dream of providing justice at the doorsteps of the people cannot be fulfilled. He said that those who do not tire of reaffirming their commitment to democracy targeted the local government institutions when they were power. He said that the former Chief Minister Punjab undermined the local government system in the past for as long as he was in power. He said that the current government is also continuing with the same policy. He hinted at the possibility of knocking at the doors of courts for the local government elections.
Chaudhary Afzal Gujjar said that empowering the people of Pakistan is the real
change. He, however, added in the same breath that the local government elections
are being delayed for the last two years. He said that the conduct of the elections
is inevitable to transfer powers at the grassroots.
Raja Zahid said in his speech that the PAT has shown its commitment to the idea
of real change. He said that our political struggle for the change in the system
and the empowerment of the people continues unabated. Arif Chaudhary said that the
membership and reorganization of the party are being undertaken in all the major
cities of Pakistan including Lahore. He said that the PAT workers rendered sacrifices
in man and material for the change in the system. Shoaib Tahir said that the youth
should become part of the PAT and play their national role for the change in the
system.
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