‘Sanghar by-poll will reflect PPP’s downfall’

PTI leader says his party will bag anti-PPP votes in PS-43 constituency

HYDERABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh said on Saturday that his party's candidate would not be contesting against the Jam family but the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the by-election in PS-43 constituency of Sanghar.

Addressing a press conference in Sanghar, he said, "The by-polls will reflect the PPP's downfall in Sindh which has already begun." He added that his party would also receive the anti-PPP vote in the constituency.

Sheikh said he believed that during the by-poll, the PPP would be held accountable for "utterly neglecting development in the area during the last 13 years of its government."

He alleged that billions of rupees collected on account of gas royalty had not been spent on the district' development.

The PTI has nominated Mushtaq Junejo on PS-43 for the by-polls which will be held in February.

The seat had fallen vacant after death of PPP MPA Jam Madad Ali.

The late MPA remained associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) before defecting to the PPP in 2017. He was the nephew of former Sindh chief minister Jam Sadiq Ali, who also belonged to the PML-F.

"But Jam Madad Ali was never given power in his constituency as MNA Shazia Marri always remained the de facto chief minister of this area," claimed Sheikh.

He said Sanghar, historically, had been a stronghold of the brave Hurs of Pir Pagara's spiritual Hur Jammat that had participated in the War of Independence.

Sheikh also reiterated the accusation that anti-Pakistan elements were funding Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl.

"After the Lahore rally, the Pakistan Democratic Movement [PDM] has lost its credibility. If they [parties part of the PDM] have courage, they should submit their resignations to the speaker," Sheikh said, adding that Prime minister Imran Khan was not afraid of their resignations.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2021.