SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday flew into Khanpur Mahar town of Ghotki district by his helicopter on the invitation of Mahar brothers, who wield considerable political influence in the district.

Mr Zardari, the former head of state, was warmly received by the Mahar chieftain, MNA Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, provincial minister Sardar Mohammad Bakhsh Khan Mahar, former provincial minister Ali Nawaz Khan Mahar aka Raja Mahar, Ghotki district council chairman Haji Khan Mahar and others.

The PPP co-chairman was accompanied by Minister for Agriculture Sohail Anwar Siyal and other senior party colleagues.

The guests and hosts drove to the residence of the Mahar chieftain, Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, in the Tar Ghar area near Khanpur Mahar.

In their one-on-one meeting Mr Zardari and Sardar Mahar discussed the political situation obtaining in the country and Sindh. They also reviewed PPP’s position in Ghotki district and a future strategy for the next general elections.

Among the other issues discussed at the meeting was the Sindh government’s failure to release the funds allocated for various development schemes of Ghotki, sources said, adding that the Sardar also urged Mr Zardari to get a ‘special development package’ for the district announced by the provincial government. They said the two sides also considered possibility of assigning PPP district leadership to a member of the Mahar family.

The sources said that Mr Zardari held out the assurance that he would speak to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah about development funds and special package and also look into other important issues.

MPA Mohammad Bakhsh Khan Mahar and Raja Mahar later joined the meeting. Former chief minister and sitting MNA Ali Mohammed Khan Mahar could not attend the meeting as he was said to be unwell.

Earlier, Mr Zardari and his entourage visited Prince Shaikh Al-Nahyan bin Mohammed Mubarik of Dubai at his camp in the game zone within the desert area of Ghotki district. According to sources, some political issues, besides matters of mutual interest, were discussed in the meeting.

Stringent security was witnessed during Mr Zardari’s visit as heavy deployment of police was made around the two places. Media personnel were not allowed to cover the events.

Published in Dawn December 29th, 2016