KARACHI: Leaders, workers and supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party on Sunday held rallies and demonstrations in many Sindh towns in response to the party’s call for a countywide protest against Indian Prime Minister Nirendra Modi and his government over their reaction to certain remarks by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at the United Nations.

A rally was held outside the Karachi Press Club to express solidarity with FM Bhutto-Zardari, the PPP chairman.

Speaking at the rally, PPP leaders and activists vowed that the entire Pakistani nation would stand up if extremist elements in India held more demonstrations against Mr Bhutto-Zardari.

They said that the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, as well as the entire party leadership had emphatically highlighted the cause of oppressed Kashmiri people.

Participants express solidarity with FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Addressing the demonstrators, PPP Karachi division president Saeed Ghani said that demonstrations were being held all over the country to expose India’s ruling Bhartiya Janta Party and express solidarity with the PPP chairman and foreign minister.

He said the PPP had effectively presented the case of Kashmir before the international community, and lamented that former prime minister Imran Khan had done nothing when the Indian government unlawfully acted to rescind the special constitutional status of the occupied Kashmir.

He appreciated that people across the country had taken to the streets to protest against notorious extremist elements in India.

PPP Sindh General Secretary Waqar Mehdi said that Imran Khan during his stint in power had ruined Pakistan’s foreign relations while the incumbent foreign minister had been trying his best to improve the same ties.

He said the entire Pakistani nation supported the narrative of Bilawal at international forums.

Activists of the PPP Hyderabad chapter staged a protest demonstration in Pathan Colony area.

It was led by the party’s district president and special assistant to the CM Saghir Qureshi, information secretary Ehsan Abro and others. Party activists carried flags and placards inscribed with slogans against Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Mr Qureshi said that Bhutto-Zardari aptly responded to his Indian counterpart’s tirade against Pakistan by exposing PM Modi.

Mr Abro said that RSS activists were unnecessarily showing provocation and holding protest against PPP chairman in India.

PPP activists also staged a protest demonstration in Tandojam after taking out a rally from the residence of Sharjeel Inam Memon.

The protesters claimed that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had boldly spoken against India as he was emulating his grandfather, and India was continuously showing belligerence which could undermine regional peace.

Activists in Tando Mohammad Khan also brought out a rally under leadership of PPP information secretary Aajiz Dhamra and staged a sit-in.

Dhamra said that PPP chairman was an asset of the country and had exposed Indian government with evidence at international level.

The party’s Kandhkot chapter took out a rally from Clock Tower Chowk to the local press club. It was led by district president Gul Muhammad Khan Jakhrani, Dr Mahar Chand Mahar, Ghulam Rasool Mirani and other leaders.

In Dadu, PPP activists marched on various roads and staged a demonstration outside the local press club.

Similar demonstrations were also held in Kandiaro, Nawabshah, Sakrand and Sehwan towns.

In Mithi, PPP workers gathered at Kashmir Chowk to show solidarity with the party chairman. MPA Fakeer Sher Mohammad Bilalani and others said that presence of hundreds of Hindus during the protest was glaring example of the interfaith harmony among the people living in Tharparkar and other parts of the country.

Led by party’s district information secretary Burhan Kumbhar, PPP Umerkot chapter also took out a rally from Peoples Secretariat to Sooraj Park.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2022