KHAIRPUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the Pakistan Peoples Party has always resisted dictatorship and is opposing it today. “Ours is a pro-democracy party which respects public opinion and public mandate ... and it will continue with its orientation and policy,” Mr Shah stated while responding to a variety of questions posed by journalists at the Daraza Sharif shrine, where he inaugurated the 194th Urs of saint poet Sachal Sarmast on Thursday.

The chief minister recalled that dictators took over the country several times and made repeated attempts to split the PPP. However, it gained more popularity after every such attempt instead, he added.

In response to a question, Mr Shah said that a huge amount of Rs40-50 billion constituting Sindh’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award was outstanding against the federal government. He said the money was not being transferred to Sindh despite many initiatives taken by his government in this regard. The chief minister argued that development works in Sindh could not be completed unless the federal government released the amount.

“We will ensure that Sindh and its people get their rights no matter the injustices done to it by the Centre,” he held out the assurance, and pledged that Sindh would seek all remedies available under the Constitution.

In reply to a question, Mr Shah said he could not claim having brought an end to unemployment in the province but for sure it had been contained to a great extent.

Speaking as chief guest at the Urs inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said termed Sachal Sarmast the best and most revered saint poet of Sindh after Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

His poetry carries the message of peace, unity, truthfulness and justice to the masses. He stressed the need for spreading Sachal Saen’s message through his poetry far and wide.

Mr Shah recalled the days when he was the vice chairman of the Sachal Yadgar Committee, and said PPP founder chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used to contribute generously to the uplift of all saints’ shrines in the province. He also referred to the golden gate of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

The chief minister pledged that PPP leaders would follow in the footsteps of their founding chairman in this regard.

Responding to a plea made by Daraza Sharif Sajjada Nashin (custodian) Khwaja Abdul Haq, Mr Shah said a high school would be established within the building of the Daraza Sharif district council. A separate school building would be built later, he added.

The chief minister also expressed concern over a boycott of the Urs celebrations by the Sindh Adabi Sangat and certain other luminaries. He directed the Sachal Yadgar Committee to address their reservations and make sure they happily end the boycott. Mr Shah acknowledged the commendable services rendered by them over the decades in upholding the culture and traditions of Sindh.

Later, the chief minister gave away Sachal Awards to the winners. Humera Channa and Mumtaz Lashari received the best singers (female and male, respectively), Ruki Bai, Haasi Bai aka Nimano Faqeer and the late Gulsher Bhatti were given the lifetime achievement awards, Mehdi Shah got the best Sufi singer award, Hyder Bukhsh received the best Sugharr award and Mohammed Siddique Bugti was given the best Malh Pahelwan award.

Sukkur Commissioner Mohammed Abbas Baloch presented a shield to the chief minister in recognition of his services for the Sachal Yadgar Committee.

The Sachal Souvenir was also distributed among participants in the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

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