LAHORE:
Former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz termed party workers as the crown jewel of the party, saying that without their die-hard followers, the party would go nowhere.
He made the comments while responding to questions on the growing complaints of party leaders who feel sidelined by the leadership, during an off-the-record interaction with journalists 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 premiership following the previous general election, he has largely maintained a wait-and-see stance.
During previous post-tenure meetings with The Express PAkGazette, when asked about his political absence and future plans, he said he had left everything to fate, a comment that reflected an apparent retreat from active politics at the time.
During the interaction with journalists, Hamza promised to play his part in addressing grievances between party leaders and workers.
It is pertinent to note that several party leaders in the province, including the AMPs, have privately expressed their displeasure with the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government, accusing it of ignoring them. The main concern, according to these leaders, revolves around non-inclusive decision-making and limited access to provincial leadership.
Observers have also noted that the Punjab chief minister rarely engages with the media through open question-and-answer sessions, a departure from the practice followed by several previous 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 Basant was once a festival enjoyed by people from all walks of life, but now seemed to have become an event largely accessible to the wealthy.
