Tit for tat: PPP accepts PML-N challenge, unveils rally plan for May 12

Sindh council meets in Ghotki to make preparations.

SUKKUR:

Every action has a reaction and on May 12, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to launch an offensive against the Pakistan Muslim League-N by holding a public rally at Kamoon Shaheed near Ubauro at the Sindh-Punjab border.

The decision was taken by the PPP’s Sindh council chaired by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at Circuit House Ghotki on Sunday afternoon. Federal and provincial ministers, senators, MNAs and MPAs belonging to Sindh and presidents and general secretaries of different districts attended. Prominent participants included Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro, Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani, Information Minister Shazia Marri, Minister for Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo.

Shah criticised the PML-N leadership saying that the Sharif brothers knew nothing about democracy and were misinterpreting the PPP’s policy of reconciliation as a sign of weakness to launch a protest movement against the PPP-led government. It hasn’t launched this movement for the welfare of the country and its people, but to achieve its own goals, he claimed.

Shah recalled the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and said that PML-N leader Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif was insisting on boycotting the general elections but it was the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari that persuaded him to take part. Soon after coming to power the PPP had decided to take along all political forces to serve the people but the Sharif brothers put up hurdles.

“We are not afraid of the PML-N’s protest movement,” Shah said, adding, “If they march to Islamabad then we can besiege Takht-e-Lahore as well.” On May 12, hundreds of thousands of jiyalas will gather at Kamoon Shaheed to show that the people are still with the PPP, he claimed. And after that, the PPP will hold rallies in other parts of the country to counter the PML-N’s propaganda.

Talking to The Express Tribune over the phone, PPP Sukkur president and member of its Sindh council, Mushtaq Surhio, said that the CM had directed all MNAS and MPAS to bring as many people as they could to make the Kamoon Shaheed rally a success. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Ahmed Shah will arrange for food and water for the participants, Surhio added.

Later, according to reports, Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Mari briefed journalists about the council’s meeting. Security was increased in Ghotki city and more than 1,200 policemen were put on duty. All shops at GT Road leading to Circuit House were forced to close.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2012.