ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: MNA Dr Nafisa Shah, the chairperson of the PPP’s human rights committee, has invited nationalist parties of Sindh to a dialogue to resolve issues related to local government system in the province.

She suggested at a news conference that the nationalist parties should organise a conference “of all parties” to resolve the differences. She claimed that the recent attacks on the homes of the speaker of Sindh Assembly, ministers, MPAs and on Malala Yousufzai in Swat were linked.

Ms Shah, whose rally was attacked by gunmen in Khairpur a few days ago, said she believed that the attackers were part of a larger plan to attack moderation, federalism and a progressive Pakistan which the PPP was striving to build.

“The masterminds of these attacks want to divide Pakistan on ethnic and sectarian lines and push back the country to dark ages by attacking political and social rights and freedoms.”

Ms Shah said President Asif Ali Zardari was following the path of reconciliation and bringing together all political forces to launch a joint fight against extremism and terrorism.