HYDERABAD/DADU: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senior Minister for Education Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Health Minister Jam Mahtab Dahar, Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and several other leaders of the Sindh Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) paid tribute to former chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah at a programme held in Wahur village, some 21 kilometres from Sehwan city, on his ninth death anniversary.

The programme began in the late hours of Thursday and continued till Friday morning.

Speaking at the gathering, CM Shah described the deceased leader as an efficient administrator who served the people of Sindh without any discrimination.

Jam Mahtab Dahar said that the former chief minister faced the challenge of terrorism and succeeded in eliminating the menace in his term.

He noted that the PPP always faced and foiled conspiracies against Sindh. “Now the party is under the command of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is also a brave leader and following in the footsteps of his mother [assassinated party chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto].”

Nisar Khuhro said that Abdullah Shah had served as the chief minister in difficult times but people appreciated his efforts and achievements even today.

MPAs Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Dr Sikandar Shoro also paid tributes to the deceased PPP leader and former CM. Home Ministers Sohail Anwar Siyal and other prominent party figures including Jam Khan Shoro, Fayyaz Butt, Gyanchand Esrani, Syed Nasir Shah, Imdad Pitafi, Pir Mujeebul Haq and Imran Zafar Leghari also attended the programme.

Syed Murad Ali Shah presented a note of thanks to CM Qaim Ali Shah and all ministers, lawmakers, party activists and other people for attending the programme held in the village to observe his father’s death anniversary. He said his father served people in an exemplary manner till his death.

In his speech, CM Shah also touched the issues of Panama Papers, wheat procurement process in Sindh and handling of various affairs by the PPP high command.

He repeated the party’s stance that a proper investigation must be carried out into the leaked Panama Papers and those whom they belonged to.

He observed that (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief) Nawaz Sharif always looked to the PPP for help whenever he found himself or his party in trouble, adding that it’s (PPP co-chairman) Asif Ali Zardari who kept democracy alive in the country.

Turning to the wheat procurement process, Mr Shah acknowledged that there were complaints of malpractices and other irregularities. However, he observed that gunny bags were being distributed among listed growers in most areas judiciously. He held out the assurance that the aggrieved growers complaints would be resolved.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2016