KARACHI, June 10: Strict disciplinary action would be taken against those who had staged a demonstration outside the Bilawal House in protest against the PPP leadership’s decision with regard to various party posts in Thatta district. Violation of party discipline would not be tolerated.

This warning was sounded by PPP Sindh chief Syed Qaim Ali Shah at a news conference held at the Bilawal House on Saturday.

“If any worker does not agree with the party’s decision, there is a procedure to register dissent. But if anyone disagrees with party chairperson’s decision, then he should not, in principle, remain in the party,” said Mr Shah.

He was responding to a question that what action would be taken against the sitting MPA Sassui Palejo, whose supporters had staged a demo against the appointment of the PPP district president and general secretary of Thatta district.

When Mr Shah’s attention was drawn to Ms Palejo’s reported statement hitting hard at the parliamentary and provincial leadership of the party, Mr Shah said the posts had been filled after consultation with the PPP chairperson, and those who had violated the discipline would be dealt with accordingly.

Asked whether the demo was a sort of revolt in the party, Mr Shah rejected the premise, saying that such a development confined to one district could not be regarded as revolt. He claimed that there was a conspiracy to pit the party cadre against each other. But such elements would not succeed in attaining their objective, he said.

Condemning the demolition of houses in Abbasi Nagar locality of Godhra Camp, the PPP leader said the continued demolition of houses proved the hollowness of Chief Minister Arbab Rahim’s writ. The chief minister, he pointed out, had declared the other day that no demolition could be carried out without his permission.

Mr Shah said PPP was opposed to any such action as they were aimed at uprooting pro-PPP people.

“The demolition of several hundred houses in that locality is a clear manifestation of the anti-people policies being pursued by the city government and provincial coalition. The PPP will mobilise masses against the policies.”

Syed Qaim Ali Shah termed the by-election on PS-80 Sanghar-III, Khipro, ‘farce, non-transparent and manipulated’. He claimed that since 2002, none of the elections held in the country proved free, fair or transparent. He said that PPP polling agents were not allowed by the RO concerned to sit in the polling stations, which was a violation of election rules.

He alleged that the RO’s action did facilitate rigging by the ruling party candidate. He also claimed that PPP workers were abducted in many areas. He told journalists that the chief election commissioner, provincial election commissioner and chief justices of the Supreme Court and high courts had been informed of the situation by the PPP.