LARKANA: Newly appoi­n­t­ed Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal has said that the Rangers-led operation against terrorists will continue and criminals will be crushed with an iron hand. He rejected the allegation that the cases recently registered against his predecessor Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza and his associates were politically motivated, and also pledged that transparency and merit would be upheld in the transfer and posting of police officers as well as in the recruitment process.

The minister faced a barrage of questions from the media on his return to his hometown late on Wednes­day evening, a few days after taking over the home department.

Know more: Cases against Mirza may be sent to military court: Qaim

No recruitment in police would be made on a political basis, he told journalists after visiting the Bhuttos’ mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.

Insisting that registration of cases against the former home minister was a politically motivated move, Mr Siyal said Dr Mirza took the law into his own hands. “If anyone does so, they are booked,” he argued. He said the law-enforcement agencies were putting in their best efforts in maintaining peace across the province.

He, however, warned unscrupulous police personnel against harassing people in the name of snap-checking and said they would have to mend their ways.

He was also asked about the alleged differences between PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The minister said that all reports about differences between the father and son were baseless.

In reply to a question, he dispelled the impression that the PPP belonged to Waderas (feudal lords), and argued that he himself was a big example. “I am a simple worker and the party has made me the home minister,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Siyal was accorded a rousing welcome by PPP activists and supporters as well other people of Tando Masti, Larkana, Bakrani, Arija, Dokri and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto when he returned to his constituency as home minister.

A guard of honour was presented to him by a police contingent at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.

Accompanied by Larkana PPP general secretary Abdul Fatah Bhutto and a large number of party workers, he laid wreaths on Bhuttos’ graves at the mausoleum and offered Fateha.

Sindhi film festival

“The Sindhi Film Festival is an attempt to revive Sindhi film industry with the help of modern technology, know-how and new themes,” said Zahid Abro, director of first Sindhi horror telefilm Daain (the witch).

Mr Abro who is one of the organisers of the festival which would start today said at the inaugural show at a local cinema on Tuesday that promos of 11 telefilms on a variety of subjects were screened at the gathering and so far 31 film-makers had registered themselves with the festival organisers.

He said that telefilms by different ‘Natak Mandlies’ (dramatic bodies) from across the province would be screened at the month-long festival which would not only help revive Sindhi film but also preserve language and culture and encourage film-makers and cinegoers to promote healthy recreational activities.

The festival starting from May 29 (today) would continue for a month and would screen 30 films, said film and drama director Ayoub Gaad.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2015

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