KARACHI: In line with its countrywide protest against recent gas supply crisis, growing inflation and economic policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) cadres staged protests across Sindh on Friday and vowed to continue their struggle till the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In Karachi, the party staged demonstrations in all six districts where the leaders accused the PTI government of causing a human crisis by toeing the line of International Monetary Fund amid growing inflation and declining business.

In Karachi east district, Sindh Minister for Information Saeed Ghani led the protest and said in his speech that PTI government had broken a 70-year record of inflation within just three years.

“Amid growing crisis, we recall the words of Imran Khan when he was in opposition. He used to say that inflation, rise in food prices and devaluation of rupee against US dollar in fact reflected dishonesty of sitting prime minister. We agree with his thoughts,” he said.

HYDERABAD: Senator Moula Bux Chandio, who led the protest here, said that people should take to the streets and send this government packing for back-breaking inflation.

He said the PTI government did not take advice of opposition seriously because Imran Khan was an immature politician who lacked ability to run government. Sindh and Balochistan were producing bulk of the gas still both the provinces were facing its shortage, he said.

LARKANA: PPP Sindh president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and political secretary to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Jamil Soomro led main sit-in and gathering at Jinnahbagh and said that Sindh produced major portion of gas but the government had denied it gas supply.

They said that PTI government was imposing unconstitutional decisions on the country and advised the prime minister to read the constitution first and treat Sindh as a province of Pakistan.

They said that thanks to a ‘confused’ opposition Imran Khan had secured time to rule and accused MQM of intending to reignite ethnic hatred.

SUKKUR: Hundreds of PPP workers took out a procession in Jacobabad against federal government’s policies and price hike.

The protesters’ leaders including PPP MPA Suhrab Sarki and others said that PTI ministers were busy boasting on TV channels that inflation was a global phenomena.

They demanded the PTI government immediately resign.

MIRPURKHAS: PPP workers, office bearers and legislators held a demonstration outside local press club to protest against shortage of gas and rise in inflation.

Former MNA Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, MNA Shamim Aara Panhwer, MPAs Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah and Mir Tarique Ali Khan Talpur, who led the protest, slammed the PTI government for depriving people of gas and raising its price as well.

UMERKOT: Workers of PPP staged a sit-in against federal government at Allah Wala Chowk where MPA Syed Ameer Ali Shah, adviser to chief minister advocate Poonjo Bheel and others said that gas and power loadshedding had multiplied difficulties of common man. Time had not come for the prime minister to step down, they said.

BADIN: A large number of PPP workers led by provincial minister Mohammad Ismail Rahu, MNA Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur and others staged a sit-in at Pir Chowk on National Highway.

The leaders said that rulers had proved their anti-Sindh attitude and now people of Sindh would never trust them.

DADU: PPP activists took out a procession and marched on different roads before arriving at local press club where party leaders made speeches and slammed federal government’s ‘anti-Sindh’ policies. Similar rallies were staged in Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Sehwan, Kotri and Jams­horo.

THATTA: PPP workers staged a sit-in and took out a procession from Edhi centre to Thatta Press Club.

Special assistant to chief minister Sadiq Ali Memon and other party leaders led the protest and criticised in their speeches federal government’s policies.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2021