‘PPP chooses to stand with state at cost of its own political interests’

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Hamayoun Khan said on Tuesday that protecting the country and its people was more important than politics, adding that the party had chosen to stand with the state at the cost of its own political interests.

Speaking at a press conference at the PPP Secretariat in Model Town, Lahore, he said he had come to Punjab to discuss organisational matters, but stressed that national interests must take precedence in addressing the challenges facing the country. The protection of Pakistan and its people, he maintained, would come first, followed by politics.

PPP Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza and Secretary Information Shehzad Saeed Cheema were present at the press conference. Other party leaders in attendance included Rana Farooq Saeed, Ahsan Rizvi, Ayesha Nawaz Chaudhry, Rao Babar Jamil, Asif Bashir Bhagat, Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, Chaudhry Akhtar, Faiza Malik, Ahmed Ghuman, Abdul Razzaq Saleemi, Muneeba Makhdoom and Chaudhry Riaz.

Welcoming Hamayoun Khan to Punjab, Murtaza said the PPP wanted to focus on fundamental issues, including law and order, unemployment and inflation. He said the situation in the country had gradually deteriorated, prompting the government to work with security institutions to improve conditions. According to him, certain constitutional but unpopular measures had become necessary, and the PPP had prioritised the interests of the state under difficult circumstances.

Murtaza said the notification issued with the President’s signature had been issued in accordance with constitutional requirements and that the Government of Pakistan had exercised its constitutional authority.

He said the PPP had accepted the decision with a heavy heart, as it had attempted to improve the situation through dialogue but had not received a positive response. He maintained that the party had sacrificed its political interests to stand with the state, and he prayed that Allah would protect Pakistan and its people.

Referring to regional developments, he said India had been concerned about Pakistan’s political and military successes, while the country’s internal challenges also required attention.

He said some people within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held constructive views but, unfortunately, the principle of putting Pakistan first was not being sufficiently emphasised within the party. He added that the public expected the state to provide roti, kapra aur makaan (bread, clothing and shelter), making it the responsibility of governments to address people’s basic needs.

Discussing the economy, Murtaza claimed that the tax rate on the agricultural sector had been increased from 15 per cent to 45 per cent, while the imposition of super tax had harmed industry. He said deteriorating law and order undermined employment opportunities and urged political leaders to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the country’s economic and social challenges.

Defending the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murtaza said the measure was neither a source of pride nor a matter of satisfaction for the PPP. However, he argued that when the provincial chief minister was unwilling to engage in dialogue, other constitutional options had to be considered. He said the PPP had taken a month to reach a decision because it wanted the matter to be resolved through negotiations.

He questioned what course of action should be taken when law and order deteriorated and federal and provincial security forces faced each other. He also asked whether what he described as hooliganism in the province was preferable to Governor’s Rule. The government, he said, was responsible for protecting the lives and property of citizens and should avoid actions that could lead to confrontation between state institutions.

Murtaza said the PPP had also imposed Governor’s Rule against its own government in the past, which, in his view, showed that the party’s position was not directed against any particular political party but was based on the interests of the state and the public. He said the party had repeatedly made sacrifices during periods of martial law. Referring to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto, he said the party’s history was marked by sacrifice and that it remained prepared to bear political losses to protect the state.

He also said the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces could not be denied and paid tribute to their services.

He stressed the need to recognise the suffering of the families of martyrs, particularly widows and orphans, and urged political leaders to reflect on their conduct and political approach in light of those sacrifices.

Referring to Senator Faisal Vawda, Murtaza said he should remember that political parties had played a role in his reaching the Senate. He added that political leaders could not absolve themselves of responsibility merely by issuing statements and should examine their own conduct.

Murtaza further said that if the PTI had staged a protest over a specific issue, its position would have been recorded. However, he alleged that the principal objective of the protest had been to secure the release of a prisoner, and he questioned whether it was appropriate to paralyse the entire state machinery for the release of one individual. He maintained that the PPP had not attempted to make excuses but had sought to present the actual circumstances before the public.

He said that when the PPP pursued a solution through constitutional means, its actions should not be equated with dictatorship or with the emergency imposed on October 12. The current situation, he argued, needed to be understood in its constitutional and political context, and national interests should take precedence over political differences.

Speaking on the occasion, Cheema said the PPP had not imposed the emergency. He said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had advocated resolving the matter through negotiations, as the party believed that political disputes should be settled through dialogue and constitutional procedures.

Cheema said the PTI delegation had arrived for negotiations in good faith, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had rendered his own delegation powerless. He questioned whether the chief minister, by doing so, also intended to weaken the PTI’s political position in the province.

He added that, amid adverse circumstances, the President had to sign the summary forwarded by the Prime Minister. Fulfilling constitutional requirements had become necessary under the prevailing circumstances, he maintained, and the PPP had presented its position while keeping the national interest in view.

The PPP had consistently sought to resolve political differences through negotiations, Cheema said, but all political forces needed to demonstrate seriousness and responsibility and place national interests above partisan considerations. Political stability, the maintenance of law and order, and addressing public concerns were essential to overcoming the challenges facing the country, he said.

Earlier, addressing the probable local government elections candidates at PPP Lahore office, Hamayoun Khan said the PPP would field candidates in every union council of Lahore. He said the party would work hard to achieve positive results under the leadership of PPP Lahore President Faisal Mir.

Describing Lahore as the heart of Pakistan, he said he was impressed by the efforts of Mir and PPP Lahore General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat to organise and strengthen the party in the city.

Among those present were Convener of the PPP Lahore Organising Committee Majeed Ghauri, former MPA Ayesha Chaudhry, Shahida Jabeen, Azain Gulzar, Aamir, Naseer Butt, Ahmed Ghuman, Hassan Abbas, Taqi Shah, Shakeel Mir Channi and Atif Khokhar, along with other party leaders and workers.

Faisal Mir said the perception that the PPP lacked a significant vote bank in Punjab and Lahore was being challenged. He said the party was strengthening its organisational structure and expanding its political presence. The Lahore chapter, he added, was also preparing for the party’s foundation day gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on November 30.

Dr Ayesha Shaukat said the party respected all segments of society without discrimination. She said the participation of people from different walks of life in PPP activities showed that the party remained present in the hearts of the people of Lahore and Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026