PPP martyrs never challenged law of land: CM Murad

Sindh chief minister terms May 9 incident a deep-rooted conspiracy of Pakistan’s enemies

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Thursday that the May 9, 2023 incident was not only an act of terrorism, but a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the enemies of Pakistan who wanted to spread hatred by targeting the national institutions.

He was speaking at the Paigham-e-Aman programme organised by the Sindh Information Department at a local hotel.

The conference was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Sardar Shah, Ali Hassan Zardari, Riaz Shah Shirazi, Mohammad Ali Malkani, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, provincial secretaries, members of civil society, TV and film artists, anchors, and family members of Shuhada (martyrs).

Recalling the bravery of Captain Karnal Sher Khan, Murad said he embraced martyrdom, on July 5, 1999, while fighting against two divisions of the Indian forces at Kargil.

“The Indian army wanted to disfigure the brave soldier’s body, but their officer stopped them saying that the body of such a bold warrior should not be disrespected,” the CM said and added that the Indian army officer wrote citations of Sher Khan’s bravery and put the draft in his pocket. “This was how we learnt about the story,” Murad said.

Comparing PPP leadership’s farsightedness and national unity to PTI founder Imran Khan’s, the CM said that when Shaheed Zulfikar Al Bhutto was executed, some of the party workers committed self-immolation. “When Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto became prime minister people thought she would avenge the killers of Shaheed Bhutto, but she announced in a UN session that `democracy is the best revenge’.”

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Murad said “when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was killed, some party workers raised slogans against Pakistan but Asif Ali Zardari openly announced `Pakistan khapey’ – we need Pakistan. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari endorsed Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s slogan that democracy was the best revenge”.

The CM added that when [PPP leaders] Faryal Talpur and Sharjeel Memon were arrested despite being granted bail, they did not instigate party workers, but faced those cases. “This is the difference between a democratic party and a party imposed on this country through conspiracy, which is an open secret now,” he maintained.

At the end of the programme, the chief minister met the families and children of the Shuhada, shared valuable moments and took photos with them.

Speaking at the event Sharjeel said that genuine political forces like the PPP faced every kind of tyranny, even sacrificed their leaders and workers in large numbers, but never went against the law of the land and its institutions.

The clips of May 9 incident, arson and attack on national institutions were also played on a big screen during the programme.