Grand Democratic Alliance launches campaign from today

Group of political parties attempt to break PPP hold in rural Sindh

HYDERABAD: The Grand Democratic Alliance, a group of political parties that have gotten together against the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh, is embarking upon a mobilisation campaign from today.

The parties and influential political figures of the alliance will lead a rally from Hyderabad to Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas all the way to Umerkot, where a public meeting will take place.

"The time has come for the people of Sindh to rise up against the atrocities of Zardari group's government in Sindh," said Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, the alliance's convener at a press conference in Hyderabad on Friday. Former Sindh chief ministers, Mumtaz Bhutto, Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, Liaquat Jatoi and Arbab Ghulam Rahim, National Peoples Party's Murtaza Jatoi, estranged PPP leader Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Qaumi Awami Tehreek's (QAT) Ayaz Palijo and other leaders were present.

"Corruption has made Sindh bleed so much that it is on ventilator now," said Mirza. "I appeal to the people of Sindh to stop tolerating their victimisation ... wage Jihad and protect your motherland."

He presented his local government elections victories and the recent win of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) provincial president Ismail Rahu on a Sindh Assembly seat from Badin as examples of successful resistance.

"I had declared that if we have to sacrifice 100 lives [for our struggle] we would do it," said Mirza. "Through these sacrifices, we wanted to snatch rights for the people." Mirza described the people of Badin as brave — a majority of whom cannot afford three meals a day yet they defied the Sindh government's machinery in the polls. "We have shown Zardari just a tip of the iceberg. Much more has yet to come," Mirza asserted. "Each year 14% Ada [Asif Zardari] and Adi [Faryal Talpur] tax is charged from Sindh's development budget," he claimed, referring to the siblings by the Sindhi words for brother and sister. "Murad Ali Shah [provincial finance minister] collects and hands this tax to Ada and Adi."

Murtaza Jatoi pointed out alleged electoral rigging, giving example of his constituency in Naushero Feroz. According to him, the polling stations with Rangers' deployment recorded 10% turnout but 66 other polling stations that were manned by the police witnessed more than 25% turnout. "For our participation in any future elections, army deployment, biometric system and electronic voting is a pre-condition," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd,  2016.