LARKANA: In a move to muster support from the rural areas of Sindh, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf that has long been seen as an urban party is going to hold a public meeting in Bakrani taluka’s Ali Abad village near Moenjodaro airport road on Friday.

PTI camps have been established in Larkana city and along the airport road leading to the public meeting venue and party songs are being played at the camps.

Political observers are eagerly waiting to listen to the PTI’s clear policy on the Kalabagh dam, NFC award and the issue of carving out new province from Sindh. PTI chief Imran Khan, however, may only focus on criticism of the PPP for its shortfalls in terms of delivery to the people.

Just a fortnight back, a 20-page book titled ‘White Paper’ on Larkana package was received in the local press club. With pictures and information, the anonymous writer and the circulator tried to tell the readers that almost all the projects started under the package remained unfinished.

The event is being organised amid the latest controversy over Mr Khan’s remarks labelling the people of Sindh “slaves” that caused the provincial assembly to pass a resolution against him.

Larkana, commonly kno­wn as a barometer of politics in Sindh, is the hometown of two prime ministers besides having the credit of playing a leading role in the Khilafat Movement in the shape of Barrister Jan Mohammed Junejo’s journey to Afghanis­tan, producing scholars like Shobho Gianchandani, and giving four chief ministers — Khanbahadur Mohammed Ayoub Khuhro, Qazi Fazl­ullah Ubaidullah, Mumtaz Ali Bhutto and Qazi Akhtar — to the province. All this speaks of political vision and wisdom of its people. Larkana has long been dominated by the PPP and the Unnars who are known to have switched loyalties after contesting ele­c­tions on the ticket of PPP, PML-Q and sometimes as independent candidates. Ghu­lam Umar Unnar, who had contested the last year elections for NA-204 seat as an independent candidate against the PPP from Lar­kana, said: “We have decided to join the PTI and will announce this in the public meeting on Friday.”

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014