KARACHI, Dec 27: The Sindh Council of the Pakistan People’s Party criticized on Friday the regime for “imposing a government on Sindh through horse- trading,” and also called for stern action against the turncoats for betraying the trust of the people.

The day-long session of the Sindh Council, presided over by the provincial chief of the party, Nisar Khuhro, also witnessed strong criticism of those who had facilitated some of the turncoats in getting party tickets at the cost of party loyalists, sources said.

According to the sources, the Sindh Council also asked the district presidents of the 12 constituencies from where the party lost in the Oct 10 general elections to submit their report, identifying causes and elements responsible for the defeat.

Amid strong criticism district cadre of the constituencies which produced the turncoats, was also asked to submit their report. Some members also emphasized that the report should also identify those party members who used their influence for awarding party tickets to the turncoats and feeding misleading information to the party chairperson, Ms Bhutto, the sources said.

The provincial party chief promised the workers, who were demanding a role in decision-making and consideration in awarding party tickets, to send their report to Ms Bhutto.

Speaking at the meeting, Nisar Khuhro said the political situation of the province was precarious as the establishment had not learnt lessons from the past mistakes.

He claimed that the policies of the new government had again pushed the people of Sindh into wilderness of hopelessness and deprivation, as elements which were against the federation had been given a free hand at the cost of democratic forces.

Mr Khuhro criticized the establishment for blocking the way of the PPP, the majority party in the province, from forming the government. He termed it strangulation of democratic dispensation and rights of the people of Sindh.

Praising the steadfastness of those who resisted inducements from the establishment, and did not betray the party, he assured the meeting that stern action would be taken against those who had betrayed the trust of the people.

He vowed to continue the struggle for the restoration of real democracy in the country by remaining committed to the ideals of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter, Benazir Bhutto.

He also promised to reorganize the party wherever it was required and action against the turncoats according to party constitution.

He claimed that the government, which was formed with the help of turncoats, would not last long and could not provide relief to the people.

Mr Khuhro also criticized the government for deteriorating law and order situation which, he said, was evident from the attack on a church in Daska. It seemed, he alleged, that the government had failed to protect the minorities, despite claims to the contrary.

It was also decided to hold the main function of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s birth anniversary celebrations on Jan 5 in Hyderabad. This would be followed by a series of functions in various districts throughout January.

The meeting also adopted various resolutions which would be released on Saturday.