PPP to sweep polls: Sharjeel

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will secure a sweeping victory from Hyderabad as well like the rest of the country, said former information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday.

"Only PPP can lift the country and its people out from the shackles of poverty and deprivations," said Sharjeel Memon speaking at the water supply scheme inauguration ceremony graced by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Taking a swipe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Memon said the parties that gained power with the help of fake mandates failed to deliver. He praised Bilawal's 18-month stint as Foreign Minister for achieving the success of winning back friendship of foreign countries. "Khan's government had pushed Pakistan into global isolation," Memon said.

Chairman Bilawal praised the people of Hyderabad, especially former provincial minister Sharjeel Inam Memon for dedication to the party.

Also read Don’t shy away from polls, Bilawal tells ex-allies

He mentioned that during the no-confidence motion in Islamabad, he observed that those aspiring to become the prime minister were trailing behind, but Sharjeel Memon was at the forefront.

Bilawal, aiming his guns at the PTI chief, said, "that individual lost the premierships due to the hard work and dedication of the party workers and leaders of PPP who are present on this stage with me."

Winning public trust

The former chief minister Murad Ali Shah said PPP while counting myriads of its development projects before the public will also not forget to acknowledge the unaccomplished tasks. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of six-million gallons per day drinking water plant in Hussainabad area of Hyderabad on Sunday, Shah tacitly blamed Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan for keeping Hyderabad in ruins.

He said after dissolution of the assemblies the PPP's former lawmakers and cabinet ministers are not enjoying vacations rather they are among the public to win their trust and support for the next elections. The former CM urged the people to give a heavy mandate to the PPP so that the party can elect Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the next prime minister.

Shah recalled that the capacity of Hyderabad's filtration plants was around 35 MGD when they formed the government in 2008. The same, he added, has now been doubled to 70 MGD. He said the PPP's Mayor Hyderabad Kashif Ali Shoro will change the city's appearance through development and beautification schemes.

"The people are waiting for the elections to happen so that they can see their beloved leader Bilawal become the PM," said PPP Sindh's President Nisar Khuhro. He credited Bilawal for uniting all workers of the party with the help of his affection.

The former provincial minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said despite various obstacles, the PPP's provincial government completed thousands of development projects. He credited Bilawal for the LG elections victory in Sindh.

The ex-irrigation minister of Sindh Jam Khan Shoro, ex-MNA Tariq Shah Jamote and ex-MPA Abdul Jabbar Khan also expressed their views. Earlier, the PPP's Chairman inaugurated the 6MGD filtration plant.

As per the project's brief, a 10km-long pipeline of 32-inch diameter was laid from Kotri Barrage's upstream to the plant in the first phase of the project at the cost of Rs561 million in 2018. In the second phase the plant along with the storage ponds was built in the ongoing year with the expenditure of another sum of Rs817.5 million. The plant would supply water to dozens of localities in the parts of Latifabad, Hussainabd and Qasimabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2023.