SUKKUR: Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, has rejected rumours about party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari being advised to quit and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah being replaced.

“Neither anyone from within the party or outside has ever advised Mr Zardari to quit nor is there any move to replace Mr Shah as the chief minister,” he categorically stated while speaking to the media at the residence of provincial minister Raja Khan Mahar in Ghotki on Sunday.

Khursheed Shah explained that Mr Zardari had been away from the country due to health reasons and would return home as soon as he was fit enough to travel. However, he added, Mr Zardari was in full control of the party affairs despite his illness.

Mr Shah said that the chief minister was handling the affairs of the provincial government perfectly and efficiently. “We may not find a better substitute,” he said, adding that there had been no move about his replacement nor had anyone at any party meeting suggested so.

“Maybe someone is willing to become the chief minister but the party leadership is of a concerted view that such a change will only complicate and increase political issues,” he said.

In reply to a question, the senior PPP leader said that [former home minister] Dr Zulfikar Mirza and [former MNA] Nabeel Gabol were in the process of launching a political party.

“They must keep in mind that all those who had in the past quit the PPP to form a new party or join some other one have been unsuccessful in gaining popular support,” he said.

Replying to another question, he confirmed his meeting with Khalid Khan Loond some time back, and said he would be welcomed to the PPP fold if he wished so.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Shah said that resurrection of Kalabagh Dam issue which had been rejected by three provinces appeared to be part of a conspiracy against the government.

He said the local government elections should be held according to schedule but since candidates would get less opportunity to run campaign due to the month of Muharram, the schedule needed to be revised.

He said the prime minister should have taken all parties into confidence before leaving for America and advised the premier to take up the issues of Afghanistan, India and Kashmir with utmost sincerity and courage.

He said that the new powers vested in the FIA would be checked whether they were within the ambit of constitution or not.

Answering a question, Mr Shah said that in Punjab always the ruling party succeeded in LG election.

He made it clear neither he nor his party or Sindhi people at large were against the people of Punjab but they were against the mindset of plotting against smaller federating units since the creation of the country.

He said the Sindh government had damaged the whole province beyond repair because of their bad governance and unabated corrupt practices.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.