‘Incompetent govt’ has failed to dewater Sindh villages: Haleem

Sheikh claims dewatering yet to begin in most flooded villages

KARACHI:

Haleem Adil Sheikh, leader of the opposition in the, has said that people are suffering immensely as the "incompetent government" in the province has failed to drain out floodwater from their farmlands even after the passage of two months.

"People say they don't want aid, they only want their villages and farmlands dewatered," Sheikh said while speaking to reporters during his visits to the flood-hit areas of Hyderabad and Tando Allahyar. Accompanied by PTI leaders Ali Palh Advocate, Lala Aminullah Moosa, and others, he visited different areas of Tando Allahyar by boat. He asked people if they had received any government relief, but most of them replied in the negative.

Expressing his deep concerns over the situation, Sheikh said that not only in Tando Allahyar but everywhere in Sindh villages were still submerged in floodwater. "People are using boats for commuting between places," he claimed.

"The Sindh government is not visible anywhere. A 'minister for system' appears on television every day to tell lies about distribution of relief goods," he said. "There is an outbreak of dengue, malaria, typhoid and other diseases, but there are neither doctors nor medicines," he said, adding that a big human tragedy was in the making in Sindh.

Sheikh claimed that dewatering has yet to begin in most flooded villages and towns. The provincial government's machinery is working on farmlands of feudal lords belonging to the ruling parties, he said, adding that "there is a state of Zardari within the state in Sindh". He said Sindh needed Haqeeqi Azadi. "Our Kaptan will lead the Haqeeqi Azadi march this week and the PTI will be voted to power with two-thirds majority in the next general elections."

Earlier, addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Sheikh said that billions of rupees have been allegedly donated on the call of PPP Co-chairman Bilawal Zardari but not a penny has given to the forsaken people of Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2022.