SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that an international magazine has declared Pakistan a very dangerous country but the country’s rulers are unperturbed as they cannot look beyond their own petty issues and interests.

Talking to journalists at his farmhouse near here on Saturday, Mr Shah warned the country and nation could no longer afford crises of any kind.

He said that Dec 16 was an unfortunate day when Gen Niazi surrendered to Indian troops and completed dismemberment of Pakistan. He could only pray that the country did not face a similar danger from another Niazi, he quipped.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party’s public meeting in Sukkur was financed and organised by people themselves and the party did not have to spend even a penny.

He admitted Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was younger in years but still he was his chairman and he had the same charisma as his slain mother Benazir Bhutto.

Mr Shah said that United States President Donald Trump was playing the role of “devil” in the world by recognising occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to play a vital role in getting the crisis resolved.

He said that institutions had become weak before 1970 and Z.A. Bhutto came to strengthen them. Once again the institutions faced a similar situation, he added.

He said that in 1962 elections a total of 80,000 votes were cast in east and west wings of Pakistan and candidates did not have to beg votes from people.

Votes were cast on the orders of chieftains but Z.A. Bhutto changed all this and made people aware of the importance of their vote, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017