SUKKUR: PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project lacked transparency as the project’s redesign exposed that maximum benefits were being given to one province, which was an injustice to the other provinces.

He criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘excesses’ against Balochistan, south Punjab, and Sindh. He said what the federal government wanted to do with such Gwadar, where the people were deprived of even basic facilities and there was no drinking water available to them. It was also sheer injustice that Rs200 billion was allocated for just one train in Lahore, while Rs12 billion was allocated for entire Karachi, he said, adding that the country’s situation could turn dangerous if such injustices continued.

Accompanied by former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, the PPP chairman was addressing a public meeting at Reharki in the Daharki area of Ghotki district. He said if the government agreed on and implemented the four-point agenda prepared by PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, there would be no unrest in the country and its provinces. The points would have proved fruitful for accountability and elimination of corruption, he added.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that Panamagate was world’s major corruption issue in which PM Sharif himself and his children were reportedly involved. His cabinet ministers, too, were corrupt, he alleged, adding that the federal finance minister was involved in money laundering.

He reiterated the four demands including immediate nomination of Pakistan’s foreign minister. However, he said, instead of nominating foreign minister, Mr Sharif seemed more interested in strengthening his relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite the atrocities being faced by Muslims in India-held Kashmir, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif failed to raise his voice in their support as his words smacked of hypocrisy.

The PPP chairman said that his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had got vacated 5,000-sq-km area from India after the 1971 war and brought back 99,000 prisoners of war from India. In a sharp contrast, he said, hundreds of innocent people were killed or wounded on the Line of Control (LoC) every other day during the rule of Mr Sharif.

He said he himself visited Reharki on the invitation of Hindu community to participate in the Dewali celebrations. This gave a clear message to Mr Modi that Hindu and Muslims lived here peacefully.

He said Pakistan Tehree-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan should not attempt to divide the united opposition by continuing to level allegations against all the parties including the PPP. He said the real face of Mr Khan and his father, Ikramullah Niazi, could be exposed if he did not stop the propaganda. He suggested Mr Khan to stop implementing the agenda of others.

It was announced that a medical college and a university would be built in Ubauro.

On the occasion, Hindu Punchayat presented a souvenir to the PPP chairman.

Former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, chief minister Murad Ali Shah, former CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah and senior minister Nisar Khuhro also spoke.

Later, the PPP chairman inaugurated IBA community college and school in Daharki.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2016