BADIN: Supporters and opponents of former home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza within the Pakistan Peoples Party held separate rallies in Golarchi and Nindo Shehr towns, respectively, on Friday.

Seemingly furious and emotionally charged supporters of Dr Mirza held a big rally outside the Golarchi press club to condemn withdrawal of official security from MNA Fahmida Mirza and MPA son Barrister Husnain Mirza, besides the disowned old guard Dr Zulfikar Mirza, for the latter’s continued outburst against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari over the media.

Led by Peroz Shahani, Malik Tariq, Adam Abro and others, the participants marched from Dr Mirza’s office to the press club raising slogans against Mr Zardari and his close associates.

Unlike all their previous public protests, the participants did not carry PPP flags. Many of them were carrying the national flag and chanting slogans criticising Mr Zardari.

An announcement made at the rally said that a force of 100 youths had been formed to substitute the official security of the Mirza family.

In Nindo Shehr town of the district, a large number of PPP workers took out a rally to reaffirm their support for Mr Zardari and MNA Sardar Kamal Khan Chang.

Led by Syed Asghar Shah, Ghulam Hussain Chandio, Irfan Qazi and others, the participants raised slogans against Dr Mirza for maligning the character of the PPP co-chairman and his associates.

They welcomed the party high command’s decision to appoint Sardar Chang as the district president and Dr Aziz Memon as the general secretary.

Meanwhile, some of the prominent local activists, including Haji Saen Bukhsh Jamali and his brother and former taluka naib nazim of Tando Bago Sardar Ghulam Rasool Jamali, announced their support for Mr Zardari. Until recently, they had been among close aides to Dr Mirza. They said they took the decision after their meeting with MNA Faryal Talpur in Karachi on Thursday night.

Haji Saen Bukhsh Jamali explained his position and views at a press conference at his residence in Tando Bago on Friday.

He said Sardar Chang would be accorded a rousing welcome on his return to Badin from Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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