Anti-local govt forces brace for a showdown
Opposition and nationalist parties to observe ‘black day’ across Sindh on Nov 30.
KARACHI:
Yet another “black day” will be observed in Sindh on November 30 against the local governance system. Led by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional chief Pir Pagara, opposition and nationalists groups announced a province-wide shutdown at a joint press conference at Raja House on Monday.
The black day against the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act, 2012, will be followed by a public gathering in Hyderabad on December 14.
Speaking to the press at his residence, Pir Pagara berated the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its leaders for betraying the people of Sindh.
“We are accused of supporting the Kalabagh Dam project, which was actually envisaged by the PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1973 and its budget was allocated by his daughter Benazir Bhutto in 1989,” he said. He was responding to the PPP ministers’ criticism of his party members, during the last Sindh Assembly session, calling them “agents of army” and supporters of Kalabagh Dam.
“It was not the General Zia regime, but these civilian dictators who introduced the idea of the dam and funded it also,” Pir Pagara said referring to the PPP leaders.
“They are calling us army agents and we cannot deny it but it is our own armed force,” he said. “What about those who had received the titles of ‘sir’ and ‘Khan Bahadur’ from the British before Partition?”
Before the country gained independence, many chieftains had supported the British rule in Sindh. The then government had also given them titles for their efforts to spread its rule. The father of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto, was conferred the title of “Sir”. Similarly, the grandfather of Nisar Khuhro was given the title “Khan Bahadur” Khuhro.
The PML-F leader, who has recently returned from London, went on to say that the family members of the same people were enjoying power politics in Sindh Assembly and criticising others. “My ancestors had waged the war for independence, while these feudal were busy serving the British,” he added.
“I think history does repeat itself. The grandparents of these people had facilitated the British government and now they are taking their turn to deceive their own people by introducing the new local government system,” Pir Pagara said.
Referring to the Sindh Assembly proceeding, the PML-F chief claimed that the PPP leaders had used derogatory language against the women parliamentarians of his party and they would not forget them. “Let Muharram finish and we will give our response in the same way,” he said.
The members of PML-F and Sindhi nationalist parties will start a door-to-door campaign against the local government system from today (Tuesday). “We would never compromise on Sindh Peoples Local Government Act, which has divided Sindh,” claimed Pir Pagara.
The PML-F leader also distanced himself from the petition filed in the Supreme Court against the local government system, saying his party had nothing to do with it as the people of Sindh have already discarded the new law.
When asked about the possibility of rejoining the coalition government, he said his party will not join hands with those who have been disloyal to Sindh.
Earlier, an hours-long meeting was held at Raja House among leaders of Sindhi nationalist parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, National Peoples Party and Awami National Party. Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party’s Dr Qadir Magsi, Awami Tehreek’s Ayaz Latif Palijo, Jalal Mehmood Shah of the Sindh United Party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz’s Sanan Qureshi, Bashir Jan of Awami National Party and Saleem Zia of PML-N were present at the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2012.
Yet another “black day” will be observed in Sindh on November 30 against the local governance system. Led by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional chief Pir Pagara, opposition and nationalists groups announced a province-wide shutdown at a joint press conference at Raja House on Monday.
The black day against the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act, 2012, will be followed by a public gathering in Hyderabad on December 14.
Speaking to the press at his residence, Pir Pagara berated the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its leaders for betraying the people of Sindh.
“We are accused of supporting the Kalabagh Dam project, which was actually envisaged by the PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1973 and its budget was allocated by his daughter Benazir Bhutto in 1989,” he said. He was responding to the PPP ministers’ criticism of his party members, during the last Sindh Assembly session, calling them “agents of army” and supporters of Kalabagh Dam.
“It was not the General Zia regime, but these civilian dictators who introduced the idea of the dam and funded it also,” Pir Pagara said referring to the PPP leaders.
“They are calling us army agents and we cannot deny it but it is our own armed force,” he said. “What about those who had received the titles of ‘sir’ and ‘Khan Bahadur’ from the British before Partition?”
Before the country gained independence, many chieftains had supported the British rule in Sindh. The then government had also given them titles for their efforts to spread its rule. The father of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto, was conferred the title of “Sir”. Similarly, the grandfather of Nisar Khuhro was given the title “Khan Bahadur” Khuhro.
The PML-F leader, who has recently returned from London, went on to say that the family members of the same people were enjoying power politics in Sindh Assembly and criticising others. “My ancestors had waged the war for independence, while these feudal were busy serving the British,” he added.
“I think history does repeat itself. The grandparents of these people had facilitated the British government and now they are taking their turn to deceive their own people by introducing the new local government system,” Pir Pagara said.
Referring to the Sindh Assembly proceeding, the PML-F chief claimed that the PPP leaders had used derogatory language against the women parliamentarians of his party and they would not forget them. “Let Muharram finish and we will give our response in the same way,” he said.
The members of PML-F and Sindhi nationalist parties will start a door-to-door campaign against the local government system from today (Tuesday). “We would never compromise on Sindh Peoples Local Government Act, which has divided Sindh,” claimed Pir Pagara.
The PML-F leader also distanced himself from the petition filed in the Supreme Court against the local government system, saying his party had nothing to do with it as the people of Sindh have already discarded the new law.
When asked about the possibility of rejoining the coalition government, he said his party will not join hands with those who have been disloyal to Sindh.
Earlier, an hours-long meeting was held at Raja House among leaders of Sindhi nationalist parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, National Peoples Party and Awami National Party. Sindh Tarraqi Pasand Party’s Dr Qadir Magsi, Awami Tehreek’s Ayaz Latif Palijo, Jalal Mehmood Shah of the Sindh United Party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz’s Sanan Qureshi, Bashir Jan of Awami National Party and Saleem Zia of PML-N were present at the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2012.