Chaudhry Nadeem, chief of Bhutto-ism International WhatsApp Groups, condemned the district administration and local police for failing to provide security for the planned Benazir anniversary rally and for allegedly harassing participants inside the Press Club hall. He told reporters that a formal request submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on 22 December 2025 seeking security for the peaceful rally scheduled for 29 December did not receive any response, and that the DPO also failed to grant permission or reply.
Nadeem said the event — organised by Pakistan Peoples Party and Bhutto-ism International — was forced to move to the Press Club at Liaquat Bagh after the silence from authorities. He accused special branch officers and personnel from three police stations of entering the press club hall and intimidating attendees, an action he described as unacceptable and humiliating toward PPP workers.
Speaking at a local hotel press conference, Nadeem appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to ensure equal treatment for all parties in the province, noting that the Pakistan Peoples Party is an allied party of the ruling coalition. He demanded accountability for officials who used such tactics and called for prompt action against those responsible for denying security for the Benazir anniversary events.
Those present at the press briefing included Junaid Awan, Saadia Abbasi, Yaseen Almani, Anwar Khan Jadun, Raja Ashfaq Kiani, Rabia Gujar and Maqsood Hussain. Nadeem said workers had been treated like stepchildren and insisted that intimidation would not deter party activists who, he said, had endured hardships and imprisonment for their cause.
He contrasted the warm reception received by Army Chief General Asim Munir during his visit to Spain with what he described as the heavy-handed treatment meted out to PPP supporters at home, stressing that his group would not be cowed by such measures. He also used the symbolism of a red tie and a green tie to underline commitment to Pakistan and to the party’s legacy while rejecting calls for violent revolt.
Nadeem explained that Bhutto-ism International is working to reintegrate disgruntled PPP workers through its platform and is mobilising support behind Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, whom they back to lead the party into government. He added that efforts are ongoing via the Apex platform to secure relief for people who lost jobs through forced dismissals, and that the visible despair among those affected underscores the need for swift assistance.
He criticised the recent CDA operations that cleared informal settlements and called on the government to arrange alternative housing for displaced families, noting many have voting ties and local support networks. Nadeem also raised concerns about a park in Rahimabad that was originally named after Shaheed Bhutto but has since become a dumping ground and had its nameplate removed. He said the Governor of Punjab has committed to visit the site and help restore the park and its memorial plaque.
Urging provincial authorities to respond to formal applications in a timely and impartial manner, Nadeem reiterated his demand that organisers of the Benazir anniversary be treated equally and that any officials responsible for harassment be held to account.
