LARKANA: Accusing the PPP of corruption under the Sindh government, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (Workers) chairman Dr Safdar Abbasi has questioned where a huge amount of Rs85 billion, apparently allocated for the development schemes in Larkana district, has gone.

Add­ressing as chief guest at the launching ceremony of a book titled Ghulam Hussain Unnar: a wadero of different political character held in Ali Abad on Sunday, he questioned in a sarcastic tone what kind of services the PPP had rendered to the people in Sindh.

Praising Z.A. Bhutto for doing politics for the poor and downtrodden and for brining out politics to roads from drawing rooms, he without naming Zardari said he could not do politics without Bhuttos’ name.

Dr Safdar Abbasi said when late Ghulam Hussain Unnar had decided to contest election for the seat of chairmanship of the District Council Larkana, General Zia opposed it. Ghous Ali Shah then landed at the Mohenjodaro airport and in a meeting with Mr Unnar advised him not to contest for the seat. If he was determined, he (Ghous) would not stand by him, Ghous Ali Shah warned him.

Mr Unnar did not take care of such threats contested, but unfortunately the then deputy commissioner of Larkana manoeuvred to inflict defeat on him by just one vote. Even then, he (Unnar) stood unshaken with the PPP, he said.

Renowned researcher Dr Dur Muhammed Pathan, who has compiled the book, in his speech said he was proud of compiling the book on Ghulam Hussain Unnar’s life, style and achievements. Whenever and wherever he (Unnar) was, he stood committed, he said. Calling him (Unnar) a typical Wadero, Dr Pathan said he was a man who had falsely been implicated in a number of cases after cases, but he courageously and boldly faced the situation and never bowed before the rulers of the time.

He criticised the sitting members (whom he called Waderas) of Sindh Assembly for inflicting drastic damages on Sindh.

Paying tributes to Ghulam Hussain Unnar, MNA Syed Kazim Ali Shah said he was a generous man who served the barefooted and downtrodden. Branding him a bold man of commitment and conviction, the MNA said today the PPP leadership was not treating people as human beings.

He said Unnar was politically victimised but he did not give up his principled stand. He accused the PPP of selling jobs while he was Unnar who gave employment to people without earning a penny.

PML-N leader Babu Sarfraz Jatoi said time demands to produce leaders like Abdul Hameed Khan Jatoi and Ghulam Hussain Unnar who fearlessly represented their constituencies. He criticised the flawed and corrupt policies of the PPP which, he alleged, had siph­oned off billions of rupees released for undertaking development projects.

Shafqat Unnar, the leder son of Ghulam Husain Unnar, welcomed the guests and criticised the PPP. He was also a critic of a particular segment of Unnar’s family who claimed to be the heirs of Unnar, but despite invitation they did not turn up to this event.

He also thanked Dr Dur Muhammed Pathan for his efforts to compile a book on his father.

Others who also spoke on the occasion were Sardar Zafar Ali Sangi, Syed Quat Ali Shah, Attaullah Unnar (writer), Moulana Ali Akbar Qasmi and Muhammed Mithal Jhatyal.

Former PPP MPA Haji Munwar Ali Abbasi, former Larkana district nazim Muha­mmed Bakhsh Arijo and a large number of people hailing from different segments of society attended the programme.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play