KARACHI, June 2: President of the PPP, Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the assemblies are not being allowed to play their constitutional role. Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club, where some political activists announced their joining in the PPP, Mr Shah accused the rulers of turning the elected houses into a mere rubber stamp. He claimed that due to the regime’s policies, the assemblies had lost their credentials and respect.
“They have also brutalized the society to such an extent that it reminds people of martial law,” he remarked.
Welcoming the newcomers, he observed that in these moments of trial and tribulation when political opponents were being targeted by the regime, people’s joining in the party not only represented their confidence in its leadership, but also their anger at the regime and alienation from the exploitative system.
The senior PPP leader alleged that the failed government had plunged the country into a deep crisis.
He observed that the torching of KFC in Karachi on Monday had taken place one hour after the Madinatul Ilm mosque was targeted, but law-enforcement agencies did not take any step to prevent the mob attack.
The chief minister’s decision to institute an inquiry into the incidents was itself an admission of the government’s failure and a no-confidence in the law enforcement agencies, he said.
He also accused the government of deliberately creating a law and order situation, and alleged that the law-enforcement agencies had miserably failed in providing security to the common man. Instead of punishing criminals and offenders, the agencies were arresting and torturing innocent people in the name of maintaining law and order, he deplored.
He said the PPP would not tolerate any excesses on people and declared that people’s struggle would force the rulers to run away.
Mr Shah also slammed the regime for price hike, massive unemployment, rising graph of suicide and declining productive units, and said the government’s claim of an overall progress at macro and micro levels was a farce.
Mr Shah said that the PPP had always struggled for the rights and emancipation of the downtrodden, and did not believe in secret deals. He said the party’s struggle for the supremacy of the parliament and constitution, as well as repeal of the 17th amendment, would continue.
He demanded that general elections be held this year under an independent election commission.
