PPP demands fair NFC award

Published May 6, 2003

LARKANA, May 5: Activists of the People’s Party Parliamentarians on Sunday reposed their confidence in the leadership of the party’s chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, called for her safe return to Pakistan and vowed to kick off a campaign in this regard besides pledging to start a movement against the government.

This was resolved in the party’s convention, which began here on Saturday and lasted till 3am on Sunday.

Other resolutions, which were adopted in the convention, included one on the judicious distribution of resources under the National Finance Commission Award, another calling for fair distribution of irrigation water, and one against the construction of the greater Thal canal and the Kalabagh dam.

Imposition of what the members of the convention called unrepresentative government in Sindh was also criticised through another set of resolutions, in which the party members warned the government that if “injustices” continued, they would launch yet another movement to restore the provincial rights.

The convention, while reiterating their confidence in the leadership of Benazir Bhutto, criticised the authoritarian rulers for “crushing the just rights of Sindh” and called for establishing ‘real democracy’ in the country.

Participants of the convention, through another resolution, lashed out against what they termed the repeated violations of the Constitution by the army chiefs, saying that these acts had “hollowed the foundations of the federation.”

The convention was presided over by president of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Sindh, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.

While speaking on the occasion, Mr Khuhro lambasted the federal and provincial governments, accusing them of creating “deliberate hurdles” in the way of the safe return of Benazir Bhutto to the country.

He said that the country’s elected prime minister had insulted the voters by saying that he had a “boss.”

Mr Khuhro said that an unprecedented 41-strong Sindh cabinet was busy fighting over perks and privileges such as cars, houses transfers and postings without any thought towards solving the problems of the masses.

Mr Khuhro said that a series of conventions would be held to prepare workers for the elections, which he added were expected to be held this year in which Benazir Bhutto would participate after her safe return home.

Others, who spoke on the occasion, included Taj Haider, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Rashid Rabbani, Munawar Suharwardi, Agha Siraj Durrani, Ayaz Soomro, Shah Mohammed Shah, Zulfiqar Sangi, Dr Fida Mirani, Hafiz Ghulam Mustafa Abbasi and Dr Arshad Mughal.

Meanwhile, the PPP workers hailing from union councils of the district criticised the Larkana office-bearers of the party and accused them of favouritism in awarding election tickets and office posts.

The People’s Party Parliamentarians convention also lacked the traditional enthusiasm displayed by party members and a number of rows remained vacant.

At one stage, instead of listening to the speeches of leaders, participants of the convention rushed for food and created a sort of indiscipline.

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