Seeks equitable justice: Ayaz Palijo hits out at PPP, flays talk of Sindh’s division

Alleges federal govt of ignoring Sindh and Balochistan in national policies.

KARACHI: The damage to Sindh has been more severe under the Pakistan Peoples Party’s rule than during the times of military dictators, alleged Qaumi Awami Tehreek president Ayaz Latif Palijo while speaking to the media at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday.

The rural population of Sindh continues to suffer but the provincial and federal governments are doing nothing to improve the education and health sectors, he lamented, requesting the people in Karachi, especially those affiliated with parties, to think about the people living in rural areas of the province.

Palijo admitted that the nationalist parties were being used by mainstream political parties. “It should be stopped. We won’t be part of any such issue that serves the interests of a major political party.”

According to Palijo, there are around 100 big hospitals in Karachi while the rest of Sindh doesn’t even have 10 good ones. Similarly, there are 32 universities in Karachi and only 16 in the other 23 districts, he said. “I feel that even the hospitals and educational institutes in Karachi are not enough for the city and its population. The government and political parties must ponder over the condition of the oppressed people of Sindh. We can’t progress unless we achieve economic stability.”

He also questioned the federal government as to why Sindh and Balochistan were always ignored during national policies. “Why is there no representation from the provinces who have suffered the most? Why doesn’t the federal government seriously tackle the issues of those provinces which contribute the most revenue?”

Criticising PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Palijo said, “Marwesoon Marwesoon, Sindh Na Desoon is a good slogan but Hosho Sheedi didn’t chant slogans from a bedroom through Twitter. Do not use the people of Sindh through paid advertisements and stop the encroachment at Moen Jo Daro. I appeal to Asif Ali Zardari and PPP’s leadership to stop collecting money and instead, do something for the people of Sindh.”

While explaining his stance on the division of Sindh and his recent meeting with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement delegation, Palijo said that his party won’t even consider talking on such an issue. “We talked to the MQM leadership about economic stability, the condition of rural areas and educational issues of Sindh,” he said, adding that the people of Sindh do not need to be ruled through weapons or through division.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2014.