LAHORE:
Former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has termed party workers as the party’s crown jewel and said that without the die-hard supporters, the party would stand nowhere.
He made the remarks while responding to questions about growing complaints from party leaders who feel sidelined by the leadership during an off-the-record interaction with reporters earlier this week.
Hamza Shehbaz also hinted at a possible return to mainstream politics through a formal role without sharing specific details.
Since losing the chief minister’s office after the previous general election, he has largely maintained a wait-and-see approach.
During earlier meetings with The Express Pakinomist, when asked about his political absence and future plans, he had said that he had left everything to fate, a remark that reflected an apparent retreat from active politics at the time.
While interacting with reporters, Hamza promised to play his role in addressing grievances among party leaders and workers.
It is pertinent to note that several party leaders in the province, including MPAs, have privately expressed displeasure with the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government, accusing it of ignoring them. The primary concern, according to these leaders, revolves around non-inclusive decision-making and limited access to provincial leadership.
Observers have also pointed out that the Punjab chief minister rarely engages with the media through open question-and-answer sessions, a departure from the practice followed by several former chief ministers.
According to participants in the meeting, Hamza Shehbaz remained largely cautious in his responses.
However, he objected to the rising cost of Basant celebrations in particular and festivals in general, noting that once a festival enjoyed by people from all walks of life, Basant now seemed to have become an event largely accessible to the wealthy.
