United in opposition: Grand alliance formed against Sindh govt

Alliance will launch street agitation; PPP calls it ‘grenade alliance’

KARACHI:

All but one opposition parties in Sindh have formed a ‘grand alliance’ against the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).  Led by Pir Pagara, the chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), the alliance will start its campaign against ‘bad governance, nepotism, favouritism, corruption, lawlessness’ in Sindh.

Apart from the PML-F, the alliance includes the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Qaumi Awami Tehreek, National Peoples Party (NPP), PPP-Workers and other groups led by Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has been left out. Interestingly, four former chief ministers of Sindh – Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Mumtaz Bhutto, Ghous Ali Shah and Liaquat Ali Jatoi – are part of the alliance.



“We have formed a 16-member committee, comprising representatives from different parties, to finalise terms of reference (ToRs) of the alliance and devise our line of action,” said Pir Pagara in a brief media talk.



The PTI and PML-N reportedly sought time during the meeting to consult their leadership before making a decision on joining the alliance. However, a Kingri House spokesperson said all the parties have reposed their trust in the leadership of Pir Pagara to get rid of the PPP government.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Rangers’ special powers were the main agenda of the meeting and most of the participants demanded expanding the targeted operation against terrorists and criminals to entire Sindh.

Special powers of the paramilitary Rangers, which has been engaged in a targeted operation against criminals in Karachi for the last two years, have been a bone of contention between the federal government and Sindh as the latter wants to put restrictions on the Rangers’ scope of activities.

After Saturday’s meeting, the leaders — including Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Ghous Ali Shah, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Ismail Rahoo and Syed Sadaruddin Rashdi — said they have formed the alliance to ‘save’ Sindh from further loot and plunder.

Talking to media, PML-N’s Ghous Ali Shah said, “We have no other intention but to stand up against the corrupt government that has sheltered criminals and corrupt mafia.”

Responding to a question, he said the MQM was not an opposition party rather it served as ‘B-team’ of the Sindh government which was why it was not invited to join the alliance.

The PTI’s Nadir Akmal Leghari said they would take to streets against the PPP government’s policies.

Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim diverted media’s attention towards political victimisation of political rivals by the PPP government. “They are lodging cases against their rivals and are putting in all efforts to plunder the resources of Sindh,” he said.



Dr Zulfiqar Mirza criticised the PPP leadership, which, according to him, has taken shelter in Dubai.

Reacting to opposition parties’ grand alliance, Sindh Information Advisor Moula Bux Chandio said, “It is not a grand alliance but a ‘grenade alliance’, which will be defused with its launch.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.