KARACHI: Nationalists’ alliance in making, says SNF chief
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, May 4: Efforts are under way to unite nationalist forces and form a new party at national level.
This was stated by Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, Chairman of the Sindh National Front (SNF) while talking to newsmen at his residence after presiding over a meeting of the Sindh Solidarity Council (SSC) here on Saturday night.
Giving details of the progress made so far towards the formation of the new party, he said contacts had already been established with the leaders of various parties. He revealed that he had held a meeting with Sardar Akhtar Mengal of Balochistan National Party, a component of Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement popularly known as ‘Ponam’.
Acknowledging ineffectiveness of certain alliances of nationalist forces in the past, Mr Bhutto observed that such conglomerates did not stay longer due to the particular circumstances under which they were formed. He, however, pointed out that formation of alliances was part of political culture and an effective alliance could formed in the future.
Expressing optimism about the unity of nationalist forces, he said that while bringing all the nationalist forces on one platform, efforts were being made to launch a single nationalist party at national level.
To a question about the possibility of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s joining the proposed alliance or party, the SNF chief replied that he was ready to invite any party for the sake of unity in Sindh.
About Sindh Solidarity Council (SSC), he said it was formed as a non-political organization to highlight and get resolved the pressing issues confronting the people of Sindh. Such issues were multiplying day by day, he observed and regretted that nobody seemed interested in paying any attention to the sufferings of the masses.
He claimed that corruption and nepotism was rampant ever since the completion of general elections, revival of assemblies and formation of new governments. The level of these two menaces, he added, had broken all records forcing people to live in a state of permanent torture.
Mumtaz Bhutto termed the new assemblies ‘product of rigging’ alleging that 50 per cent of the legislators had reached the Houses through rigging. There are certain members who appeared to be convicts or absconders,” he remarked.
SSC MEETING: Earlier, the SNF chief presided over a meeting of the Sindh Solidarity Council which resolved to strive for the resolution of pressing issues confronting the people of the province. It expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Sindh.
The meeting described water shortage, corruption, rising unemployment rate and incompetency of bureaucracy as ‘burning issues’ and discussed ways and means to counter them. The meeting also discussed the issue of political unification in the province.
The SSC decided to issue a white paper on the Sindh’s agony and form a delegation to apprise President Musharraf of the situation to draw his personal attention towards it.
The meeting, noting a high degree of desperation in Sindh, indicated that growing incidents of lawlessness were an evidence of the total failure of police in discharging their duties. The police, it alleged, were indulged in massive corruption and victimization of innocent people.
Participants of the meeting were of considered opinion that the province’s economy had collapsed due to the acute water shortage which had rendered about 3.5 million acres of its fertile land barren.
The meeting also took a serious note of unsuitability, dysfunction and corruption of the new district governments and deplored the bureaucracy’s indifference, incompetence and corrupt practices. It expressed grave concern of the constantly increasing cost of living as well as unabated unemployment.
It observed that power breakdowns amid sizzling weather, shortage of potable water and collapse of health and education system had made life of the Sindh people miserable.
