Rallying in Larkana: No division of Sindh, no Kalabagh dam, says Imran

Says PTI wants to draw a line between the oppressed and the oppressor.

SUKKUR:

Braving all the odds, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf did manage to put up a decent show in the stronghold of its rival political party.

Addressing a sizable gathering of party supporters in Ali Abad, some 11 kilometres away from Larkana, PTI chief Imran Khan announced on Friday that his party neither supports the division of Sindh nor will support the construction of Kalabagh dam against the consent of Sindhi people.

“Ironically, our politicians advocate division — sometimes on the basis of ethnicity and sometimes in the name of sectarianism — but we want to draw a line between the oppressed and the oppressor,” he maintained.

Talking about the miseries of Sindhi people, Imran said that education, health and other sectors are in a shambles and six million children are not getting education in the province. “Educated youth is unemployed and there is no respect of merit therefore jobs are being sold.”

“Many relatives of former president Asif Ali Zardari are part of the government, what type of democracy is this?” the PTI chief questioned the gathering. Pakistan Peoples Party is ruling over Sindh for the last 25 years but nothing has changed or improved, he lamented. “After waking up the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, I have come to Sindh to give you people a wakeup call.”

Imran stressed the need of transparent elections, saying “they are the only answer to current political chaos in the country. Those who come to power through rigging will never think of improving the people’s lot.”

Promising best ever local bodies system if voted to power, the PTI chief said, “Sindh government received Rs500 billion under NFC Award but how much of it has trickled down to the people?”

Taking jibes at Nawaz Sharif and Zardari he said, “When I say’ Go Nawaz, Go’ it means ‘Go Zardari, Go’ as well, because both of them are trying to save this corrupt system, which denies rights to the masses.”

Imran described peace as a critical need, ensuring which can set the country on the path of progress. Thar is blessed with 180 billion tonnes of coal reserves. People of Sindh are sitting on the black gold. Peace will attract foreign investment that will create jobs for the educated youth, he said

“Today, 110 million Pakistanis are living under the poverty line. We are committed to pulling them out of their miseries; if the gap between the rich and poor is removed the country will flourish.” He invited all countrymen to Islamabad on November 30 to record their protest against the tyrant system.

Expressing his anxiety over the reports of Hindus migrating to India, Imran said, “It is very much disturbing.” PTI will safeguard your rights, he assured the minorities, especially Hindus.

Earlier addressing the gathering, PTI’s vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi thanked the people of Larkana and said, today they have created history. “Nisar Khuhro today people of Larkana have rejected you, he said, adding, Imran doesn’t need your NOC for coming to Larkana,” he said.

Today there are no Bhuttos left in the PPP; rather it has fallen in the hands of Zardari, said Qureshi. PPP workers are unhappy and disappointed with their leadership as children are dying in Thar on a regular basis but no heed is paid to that problem, he added.

Qureshi paid rich tributes to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, adding that “PPP has ruled in the Centre for last five years and in Sindh for more than six years, but people of Larkana are still not questioning them as to why it has failed to nab the assassins of Shaheed Rani?”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2014.