CM calls PTI leadership ‘politically naive’
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the political strategy of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership is so naive and pathetic that despite winning six National Assembly seats in the by-election they lost their strength in the parliament.
Earlier, PTI had 162 seats in the National Assembly and now despite winning six seats in the by-polls they have reduced their strength to 156 seats - this shows their political immaturity, Murad said.
He was talking to the media at the Memorial of the Martyrs of October 18, 2007 at Karsaz. CM was accompanied by Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. Replying to a question, the chief minister said, "His [Imran Khan] upper chamber was totally empty, and his decisions reflect his political immaturity and naivety."
Had Imran fielded his party candidates in the by-elections, instead of contesting by himself, he would have added six seats in his numerical strength in the national assembly, Murad said.
"PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto had called Imran Khan 'selected prime minister' in the assembly and now Imran has publicly admitted that he was a puppet prime minister, and his strings were elsewhere," Murad said.
"Look at Imran's political wisdom…first he quits the parliament and now plans to storm the federal capital to take over the government by force," the CM said. Imran should realise that Pakistan was a democratic country and that change of government was only possible by the way of a vote in the Parliament.
Karsaz Tragedy
Talking about the Karsaz tragedy, Murad said that on Oct 18, 2007, he was with his great leader, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on the truck. He recalled the charged emotions of the people who had come to receive their charismatic leader when blasts were detonated which claimed 180 lives and injured over 450 innocent people.
By the grace of Almighty Allah Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto survived the attack and the next morning she rushed to JPMC to meet her injured workers and then proceeded to Lyari to visit the families of the workers killed in the blast.
Murad said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto while struggling for the right of the people to rule the country laid her life in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007. "Thus, the restoration of democracy in Pakistan cost her life, therefore it [democracy] is very dear and precious to us," he said. The chief minister said that the investigation into the Karsaz incident or the murder of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto could not be concluded because the evidence was removed from the crime sites.
"Fifteen years have passed since the Karsaz tragedy and to the Shahadat of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto but still she is alive in the hearts of people," he said and added those who were behind the conspiracy of killing her have disappeared in oblivion which is the revenge of democracy.
To a question, Murad said that the families of the Karsaz Shuhadaa were taken care of properly, and to remember them in the history of the country, their memorial has been constructed here [at Karsaz] which speaks loads of their bravery and sacrifice for the cause of democracy. Earlier, the chief minister laid a floral wreath on the memorial of Shuhadaa and offered dua for them.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2022.