‘Owais Muzaffar’s life is in danger’

Interior ministry asks provincial government to provide Muzaffar with extra security.

KARACHI:

Some intelligence reports state that there are threats to the life of Owais Muzaffar, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) candidate for PS-88, Ghora Bari, Thatta.

According to sources privy to the matter, the interior ministry had asked the provincial government to provide Muzaffar with extra security, but this has yet to be done.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Muzaffar said that his family had suffered a great loss before the last general elections as PPP chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. He said that before the incident, PPP leaders had repeatedly requested the government to provide foolproof security to her, but this proved to be futile.

He said he faces similar threats, but he will still continue his election campaign. “It is the responsibly of election commission and caretaker government to provide protection to me. They will be held responsible for any attack.”

Responding to a question, the PPP leader refuted allegations that he has started his election campaign amid tight police security. “A campaign to spread propaganda against me has been started because the people, who are diehard workers of PPP, have given me a good response and the party’s rivals resent this.”  He said that feudal leaders in Thatta have made the lives of innocent people miserable and after the elections, he would give them jobs and reduce poverty in the area. “I do not believe in the politics of blame game. People will decide through their votes and elect representatives.”

On the occasion, some notables of Thatta, including Jam Qaim Ali, vice-president of Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Thatta division, Sikandar Ali Shah of the Shirazi Group and leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional announced that they have joined PPP along with their family and friends.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2013.