THATTA, April 23: “How to defeat anti-Sindh candidates in election” was the title of an all-parties conference held in the Makli Gymkhana on Tuesday under the auspices of the Sindh National Movement (SNM) in a scenario where the Shirazi brothers — portraying themselves as the kingmakers of the district — are employing all possible men and kind to counter the PPP candidate for PS-88 Ghorabari, who appeared to be President Asif Ali Zardari’s foster brother Awais Muzaffar Tappi.

Ali Hassan Chandio of the SNM, Syed Mohammed Ali Shah (a candidate for the same seat) of the Pakistan Fisher-folk Forum, independent candidate Syed Riaz Shah Sheerazi, Aziz Keenjhari of the Awami Jamhoori Party, Ghulam Qadir Chandio of the Sindh United Party, Nawaz Shah Bhadai of Jeay Sindh Mahaz and other political figures and activists of the area spoke at the conference.

They decided to make it a one-to-one contest for the PS-88 seat by fielding a joint candidate to ensure defeat of the PPP candidate. It must be an ‘anti-Tappi’ contest to be fought by a single rival, the conference was told.

Through a set of unanimously adopted resolutions, the conference demanded withdrawal of official protocol and armed guards from the PPP candidate.

It also urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to take notice of all violations of the code of conduct by the PPP candidate. In another resolution they said this conference support all the pro-Sindh contestants in the entire province. It also declared that the participating parties would field a single candidate against the PPP candidate.

Earlier, speaking to the audience, Ali Hassan Chandio said that the PPP gave the people of Sindh only terrorism, miseries, unemployment, poverty and hunger all in the name of its so-called conciliation policy.

Thousands of illegal immigrants including Bengalis, Biharis and Burmese had already settled in Sindh and grabbed its lands and resources during the PPP tenure, he claimed, adding that it planned to settle another 10 million aliens in the Zulfikarabad city for which Sindh would have to surrender its 350-miles-long coastline along with its resources over the next 15 years. This would ultimately deprive the local people of their legitimate rights, he argued.

SUP provincial chief Ghulam Qadir Chandio alleged that the PPP candidate brought hooligans and gang warfare elements into Thatta to terrorise his rivals and their supporters with a view to ensure an easy win in the election.

He feared bloodshed by such elements in the area.

Aziz Keenjhari claimed that the PPP stood exposed by its anti-Sindh policies and warned that if political stakeholders of Thatta did not stop its way, the area could turn into another Palestine.

Syed Riaz Shah Sheerazi recalled that the PPP candidate, having no party slot or official authority, was already facing allegations of changing land revenue records for illegal transactions involving thousands of acres of lands belonging to Jokhias, Palaris, Hamatis and other abadgars of this district. “What will happen if the man succeeded in reaching the office of the Sindh chief minister, as is being feared,” he asked.

Syed Nawaz Shah Bhadai claimed that the PPP candidate was an investment tycoon actually fielded indirectly by Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, and said he was confident that the people of Thatta would shatter his dream of selling away this part of Sindh.

Syed Muhammad Ali Shah indirectly opposed the Sheerazi brothers’ choice of Haji Usman Malkani, saying that he had been a favourite of Gen Pervez Musharraf and the people of Thatta would not like to vote for him. He urged the Sheerazi brothers to withdraw Mr Malkani in his favour.

Ghulam Nabi Khatti of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Khadim Burirro of PML-N and Mehtab Shah Sheerazi also spoke.