SUKKUR: Lashing out at the Pakistan Peoples Party’s leaders and its poor governance in the province, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional president and chief of the Grand Democratic Alliance Pir Pagara said on Sunday that the GDA would defeat the PPP in the next general election and form its government in Sindh.

The spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat, Pir Sibghatullah Rashdi, said this while addressing a big public meeting of the GDA organised by his party at Rohri bypass.

Two former chief ministers Ghous Ali Shah and Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, former home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, and Dr Safdar Abbasi were among those who also spoke at the meeting.

PML-F stages a show of strength in Rohri

Speaking on the occasion, Pir Pagara said that on the eve of the soyem of the slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto Asif Zardari claimed that he knew who killed Ms Bhutto. He mocked Mr Zardari for not disclosing the names of her killers while occupying the office of the president for five years and despite ruling the province for the last about 10 years.

He said that rampant corruption was prevailed in Sindh as the rulers did not feel any shame in looting people by taking bribes and indulging in corruption.

He said even the posts of sweepers reserved for minorities had been sold to Muslim candidates by taking bribes. “The PPP people have pushed Sindh towards destruction.”

Pir Pagara said that his party knew that how its candidates were defeated in the 2013 general elections. “The election results were changed in the darkness of night and our candidates shown defeated with a mere 50 or 100 votes. But we contest the election for the sake of the people.”

He warned that the GDA would not accept any rigging in the forthcoming elections.

He vowed that the alliance would emerge victorious in the next elections and eventually form the next government.

He appreciated the judiciary and the army for what he called looking after the conditions of the country.

The GDA chief also expressed his concern over the issue of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat and said that not only men but women could come out of their homes on this matter of great importance.

He said that government should negotiate with the participants of the Islamabad sit-in instead of resorting to violence.

GDA to contest polls on one symbol

GDA secretary general Ayaz Latif Palejo said on the occasion that the alliance would soon be registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan and its candidates would contest the next elections on one symbol.

He criticised the PPP-led Sindh government for not taking steps to improve the conditions of women and peasants.

He said due to injustices, the people were committing suicides.

Addressing the meeting, Pir Sadaruddin Rashdi said that Mr Zardari could not even win the election of a union council but was made president of the country following the tragic demise of Ms Bhutto.

He said jobs were being sold out in Sindh and women were being disgraced in front of the Sindh Assembly only for demanding their salaries.

He promised to make conditions better and provide all facilities at their doorsteps when the GDA formed government in Sindh and the country.

He asked women to come forward and strengthen the GDA.

Sadruddin Rashdi said that the process of accountability would soon begin in Sindh against the corrupt people and the looted money would be brought back in the country.

Arbab Rahim quits PML-N

Former Sindh CM Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who has been elected an MPA from the platform of the PML-Nawaz, announced at the public meeting quitting the Nawaz Sharif-led party.

He said that Mr Sharif and Mr Zardari were equally responsible for the destruction of Sindh.

PML-F lawmaker Ghous Bux Khan Mahar told the public meeting that that the PPP had no able person within its ranks in order to appoint him as a full-time irrigation minister. “The government is going to complete its five-year term but cannot post the minister of such an important department.”

He said that the PPP failed to solve the problems of people and next year the GDA would form its government and would serve the people.

He said that the people of Sindh were emotionally blackmailed by the PPP to got votes.

The public meeting was also addressed by Sheheryar Mahar, Nusrat Sahar Abbasi and others.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2017