DADU: Announcing that the investigation of the Sehwan shrine blast has been completed, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Friday that the mastermind and all terrorists involved in the Feb 16, 2017 attack were either arrested or killed in encounters.

Mr Shah said this while talking to newsmen on the occasion of first death anniversary of those killed in the suicide bombing at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar that claimed the lives of 90 people and injuries to 300 others.

The local business community and traders closed their businesses to observe the death anniversary. People from different walks of life arrived at Sehwan Sharif from across the country to attend the event.

First death anniversary of those killed in Sehwan Sharif blast observed

The CM also offered fateha and laid floral wreaths at the shrine. Relatives of those killed in the blast, religious scholars and people from all walks of life also attended a programme to observe the first death anniversary of the victims.

To a question, he said that construction and repair work of the damaged parts of the shrine had been completed.

The CM said following the suicide bombing, more policemen were deployed at the shrine and security was further tightened to avoid recurrence of any such incident.

He said Sindh was the land of Sufi saints and security was tightened and increased at all shrines.

However, Mr Shah said although those working against the country had more resources, his government with its available resources was trying hard to improve the security measures.

Horse-trading allegations rejected

The CM rejected allegations that the Pakistan Peoples Party was involved in horse-trading in the upcoming Senate election.

He said that these were baseless charges. Those blaming the PPP for horse-trading had actually doubts over the allegiance of their own party members.

He advised the opponents to not doubt their own members as well as the PPP members for the Senate election.

Mr Shah said that provincial lawmakers would exercise their right of franchise through secret balloting in the Senate election in accordance with their wishes.

Answering a question about internal differences within the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, he said the people of Karachi gave vote to the party so that they could serve them.

He said the MQM leaders should eradicate their differences and pay attention to the public issues.

About SP Rao Anwar, he said that the Sindh government would obey the courts to arrest the suspended police officer.

He said that the PPP had no policy to make any electoral alliance in the coming general elections.

Mr Shah was accompanied by Hyderabad divisional commissioner Saeed Ahmed Magnejo, DIG Hyderabad Javid Odho, SSP Jamshoro Irfan Bahadur and others.

Earlier, the CM arrived at village Arazi, offered condolence with Raees Shah on the death of his mother.

PPP to form next govt in Centre, Sindh

Speaking at a programme after inaugurating a membership drive at Bhan Syedabad town, Mr Shah said that with the support of public, the PPP would again form its governments in Sindh and Centre.

He said that no one could compete with the PPP in the general elections and all anti-PPP elements would be defeated.

Mr Shah also told reporters at Shahbaz airport in Sehwan Sharif that Sindh had not received its share from the National Finance Commission award.

He paid a surprise visit to the Manchhar Lake after visiting a Bubak town on Friday. The CM took a boat ride.

He said that he would soon announce a package for rehabilitation of fishermen and development of the lake.

Other events

The Sindh Auqaf department, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, Shahi Bazaar Association, Sar Sabaz Association, Taraqiati Tanzeem, Sindh Sufi Institute, Lal Shahbaz Trust, Sindh United Party, PPP-Shaheed Bhutto and six different civil society organisations held their separate gatherings to mark the first death anniversary of the victims of the Sehwan Sharif suicide blast.

Speaking to a gathering, Khair Mohammad Buriro, who survived the blast, said that although one year had passed the people could never forget the incident.

Another survivor, Nazeer Soomro, said that citizens of Sehwan Sharif were brave as they had arrived soon after the blast and started rescue work on a self-help basis.

Activist Haji Dodo Burdi said that people of Sehwan had established an example by selflessly helping the victims of the blast.

Speaking at a programme, Ali Nawaz Solangi said that the terrorists had carried out the bombing to stop dhamal at the shrine of the Sufi saint. But the terrorists failed since dhamal was started in the shrine with same spirit and same pattern.

He said that the people had started dhamal at the shrine to deliver the message of unity.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2018