PAT Lahore holds Workers Convention ahead of polls on February 8

A Workers Convention was held under PAT in the honour of the party’s candidates contesting elections on the national and provincial assembly seats from Lahore Division. Muhammad Saqib Bhatti, President of the party’s Lahore chapter, presided over the Convention, whereas Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur was the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that price hike has made life miserable for the masses. He said that there has been some reduction in the prices of the petroleum products but it has not translated into any major relief for the people. He however added in the same breath that prices of the essential items go up straight away as soon as those of the petroleum products are hiked.

PAT Secretary General said that the government machinery that protects the interests of the people and ensures the rule of law has become dysfunctional. He said that the profiteers have been having a field day, stating while the prices of essential items in the neighbouring country increased by 15% to 20% despite global inflation, the rate of their hike is over 200% in Pakistan. He said that this sad state of affairs persists because of the absence of the rule of law, adding that those vested with this responsibility are not interested in performing their role.

President PAT Lahore Saqib Bhatti said that PAT is taking part in the elections with the narrative of public service. “For us, politics is the service of the people and worship,” he added. Throwing light on the aims of the political struggle, he said that it is meant to rid people of the scourge of inflation and price hike. He also presented a report in the Convention with regards to the preparations of elections.

Raja Zahid Mahmood, Allama Rana Muhammad Idrees, Arif Chaduhry, Sardar Umer Daraz, Rana Nafees Hussain Qadri, Syed Gulzar Hussain Shah and Ahmad Hassan also delivered their speeches in the Workers Convention.

PAT national and provincial assembly candidates, including Engineer Latif Hussain, Malik Mujahid Mahmood Langrial, Shafaqat Ali Mughal, Prof Habiba Hina, Saddam Hussain Chaudhry, Sardar Arif Ali, Dr Khalid Pervez, Sohail Ahmad were also present on the occasion.