LARKANA: Dr Safdar Abbasi, of Pakistan Peoples Party-Workers (PPP-W), claimed on Friday that his party has emerged as the second largest party in Larkana and a challenger to the PPP.

Dr Abbasi, who also holds the post of PPP-W president, made this claim in a press statement after his party’s general council meeting. He said the result of a fresh round of polls over reserved seats for the local bodies was quite encouraging since 31 had returned successful, swelling the total number to 73.

Earlier, the general council, held in Waleed village here on Friday under the chairmanship of Dr Abbasi, took stock of the prevailing situation in the country with particular reference to their party’s performance in Larkana in the local bodies’ elections and the recent phase of elections on reserved seats.

Dr Abbasi congratulated party workers for their hard work which had strengthened their party position in the local bodies in Larkana.

The council decided to step up efforts in organising the party network for which a coordination committee would be formed at union council and corporation levels.

The chairman told the council participants to recommend names for coordination committees. The party also decided that once the committees were structured, a membership drive would be launched in the district.

Meanwhile, the meeting also discussed various problems that beset Larkana such as extended power outages, gas load-shedding, worsening sanitary conditions and misappropriation of development funds. They held the PML-N government responsible for the situation.

Those attended the meeting included former PPP MPA and now Awami Ittehad leader Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi, Moazzim Abbasi, Changez Abro, Gada Hussain Abro, Rafi Abbasi and Awais Abbasi.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2016