DADU: Sindh United Party chairman Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah has said that Pakistan is in diplomatic crisis today because of flawed and ill-advised foreign policy pursued thus far by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government.

The federal government should take immediate steps to formulate a functional and forward-looking foreign policy based on mutual respect and trust and driven by common interests, he said.

Mr Shah was speaking at a public gathering at the residence of a local party leader in Sann town, 110km from here, on Thursday.

Apparently referring to the threats and allegations recently hurled at Pakistan by the US president, Mr Shah said that it did not happen within a day; it was an outcome of wrong foreign policy pursued over the years and it was an ill omen that attempts were afoot to push Pakistan into political isolation.

“We are a brave and brilliant nation and we can face all kinds of challenges only if we are able to eradicate corruption and punish the corrupt regardless of their political clout,” he said.He said that lawlessness was an offshoot of political patronisation of crime and criminals. “Despite the fact that we are not in government and never remained part of any government we respect the law and we will never allow any government to indulge in unlawful acts,” he said.

Mr Shah said that it was prime duty of every citizen to follow the law and respect fellow citizens. Conditions in Sindh were much better than in Balochistan; still if somebody indulged in unlawful activity, he would not be allowed to live in Sindh and especially in Jamshoro district, he said.

About shortage of irrigation water, he said that crops were withering away because of unabated water shortage and it would certainly hit the economy of Sindh. Since irrigation system was the backbone of economy, irrigation water should be distributed equally among all provinces, he said.

He said that rulers had failed to improve power supply system, which had seriously affected industries, businesses and routine life in Sindh. Everything was possible after corruption was eradicated and corrupt people were punished. Youths of Sindh were very energetic and hard working but they did not get enough opportunities, he said.

Mr Shah condemned terrorist activities in Sindh and other parts of the country and said the government needed to punish all people linked to terrorists directly or indirectly.

He said that Sindh was a land of Sufis who preached love and brotherhood. “We should only follow the straight path which will improve peoples’ lives,” he said.

He exhorted SUP activists and followers to respect fellow citizens and obey the law and all government departments.

SUP leaders Roshan Buriro, Meer Moula Bux Leghari, Darya Khan Leghari, Niaz Chachar, Khadim Chachar, Abdul Latif Panhwar, Ashraf Shah, Akhtar Memon and Aurangzeb Shahani also addressed the gathering.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2017