MQM’s announcement: PPP can retort but will show restraint says Sindh information minister

Sharjeel Memon says PPP leadership has decided to continue reconciliatory policy

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon has said the PPP is fully capable of giving a befitting re[ply to Muttahida Quami Movement’s (MQM) allegations but the PPP leadership has decided to continue its reconciliatory policy.

He was addressing an emergency press conference after the MQM’s announcement that it would quit the Sindh government to protest against PPP Chairman Bilwal Bhutto Zardari’s statement against the MQM chief Altaf Hussain.



“The PPP chief and co-chairman in Saturday’s rally had invited all parties, including the MQM, to forget the past grievances and join hands to counter the challenge the country is facing.

“However, the MQM’s reaction to this message is not only astonishing and saddening but also deplorable,” he said.

He said the PPP chief Bilawal is in Pakistan, in the midst of people, and is not doing politics from abroad under some unknown fear. Memon said the workers and Jialas of the PPP were ready to sacrifice their lives to protect not only Pakistan but also the province of Sindh.

He said the PPP would not let the city be taken hostage by ‘unknown people’. There is a law in the country and law enforcement agencies are doing their job,” he added.

“The country is facing multiple challenges including issues like that of internally displaced persons, flood-affected people as well as external threats. In this scenario, the politics of allegations will only complicate our difficulties,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2014.