The Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) plans to hold a workers' convention at the Greater Iqbal Park on July 25 suffered a setback on Friday after the Lahore district administration stopped preparations for the event, stating that the party had not obtained written permission. The move came after the party had already erected a stage and made extensive preparations at the venue, with workers scheduled to gather on Saturday and later celebrate President Asif Ali Zardari's birthday on July 26. The district administration has sought an explanation from the PPP leadership about the use of park premises without formal approval.
The Express Tribune reached out to Lahore PPP President Faisal Mir about the matter, who claimed his party proceeded with the arrangement “after receiving assurance from the Punjab Chief Minister's Office”. Read: Maryam Nawaz hits out at PPP as PML-N launches AJK election campaign “I was told that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had no objection to the convention and she had approved the event,” he stated. “Based on this assurance, we began preparations for the event at the Greater Iqbal Park," Mir added.
The Lahore PPP president then alleged that the district administration intervened and stopped the workers after nearly 14 hours into the preparation of the event. Mir said he will stand his ground even if it meant being arrested. On X, he said, "The Punjab government has restricted access to Minar-e-Pakistan to prevent our workers' convention, while trucks carrying chairs and other equipment have also been stopped," adding that despite that, they remain determined to hold the workers' convention "in a peaceful manner" under all circumstances.
Mir further stated that the PPP hoped that "in respect for democratic traditions", the issue would be resolved immediately. پنجاب انتظامیہ نے پیپلز پارٹی کا مینار پاکستان کا جلسہ روکنے کا فیصلہ کر لیا۔ تمام ورکرز مینار پاکستان پہنچیں -پنجاب حکومت نے ہمارے ورکرز کنونشن کو روکنے کے لیے مینارِ پاکستان کا راستہ محدود کر دیا ہے، جبکہ کرسیاں اور دیگر سامان لے جانے والے ٹرک بھی روک دیے گئے ہیں۔ اس کے باوجود… pic.twitter.com/iWmyDMCxJp — Faisal Mir (@faisalmirppp) July 24, 2026 When contacted by The Express Tribune, the Chief Minister's Office declined to comment on whether the chief minister's principal secretary had conveyed approval for the event. Meanwhile, a senior police official, requesting anonymity, said p…
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