Political wrangling: PML-N leader blames govt for apathy towards Sindh’s issues

Nawaz Sharif's visit of Karachi and Hyderabad was to reorganise the provincial chapter of the PML-N.

KARACHI:

A bleak portrait of Sindh was portrayed by Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz’s (PML-N) Saad Rafiq during a press conference on Wednesday. He blamed the coalition government for Karachi’s worsening troubles as he alleged they were turning a blind eye to dacoits and kidnappers in rural Sindh.

“The people of Sindh have been trapped in problems by the government and its coalition partners,” affirmed Rafiq.

The PML-N leader emphasised the need for good governance and for people to have access to it without having to pay any extortion money.

Rafiq heavily criticised the treatment of flood survivors in Sindh and said that they are still suffering because of the apathy of the provincial government. The next floods are coming up while the banks of the Indus have yet to be repaired. Those talking about “revolution” should see the condition of people in their own constituency before making any such grand claims, said Rafiq.

He confirmed that the recent visit of Mian Nawaz Sharif of Karachi and Hyderabad was primarily to reorganise the provincial chapter of the PML-N.

He called for the ending of divisions on nationalities and languages and said it was the duty of political parties to build bridges between different people. “Those who break such divisions cannot be politicians,” said Rafiq.

Toeing his party’s stance, Rafiq engaged in a diatribe against former president Pervez Musharraf, accusing him of distributing valuable land in Karachi to multinational companies and friends. He demanded inquiries into the nature of these allotments, which he deemed “illegal.” Rafiq demanded that Balochistan be taken away from the control of security forces and for the bureaucracy to regain its control. The PML-N believes in dialogue and resolution with everyone and the angry Baloch tribes should be pacified before it is too late. It is this policy of dialogue that was followed when Mian Nawaz Sharif met with Sindhi nationalist leaders. “If someone is angry then you have to talk to him and end his concerns, without which countries cannot survive,” said Rafiq.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2011.