LARKANA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and former chief minister of Sindh Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Thursday said that political forces would resist postponement of the July 25 general elections in the wake of accountability court’s verdict [fixed for today] in the Avenfield case [in which ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family are accused of corruption].

He was speaking to reporters at the residence of spiritual leader Deeda Dil Ghaffari — a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader who announced his support for the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) in the elections — here on Thursday. Mr Jatoi expressed his confidence that PTI would not only form government at the Centre but also in Sindh and other provinces.

He said it was the fruit of 20 years of people’s struggle led by Imran Khan that PTI had become favourite in the elections and its popularity graph was constantly going up.

Criticising PPP and its leaders for indulging in “massive corruption” along with its allies, Mr Jatoi repeated his party’s demand for accountability of Asif Ali Zardari and all his associates. He said corruption had touched new heights during the rule of PPP-led governments over the past decade.

He appealed to the judiciary to ensure accountability of Mr Zardari “who plundered Sindh”. He questioned Mr Zardari’s soaring wealth claiming that at present he owned around 100,000 acres of land and 19 sugar mills. Besides, Mr Jatoi claimed, the PPP co-chairman possessed properties in almost the entire country as well as in Dubai and London.

Deeda Dil Ghaffari announced his support for GDA candidate Moazzim Abbasi on PS-11 in the latter’s contest against Nida Khuhro, the daughter of Sindh PPP president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.

DADU: Addressing a public meeting in Gahi Mahesar in Mehar taluka of Dadu district on Thursday, Liaquat Jatoi said that PTI would eradicate corruption from the country and restore complete peace after forming governments at the Centre and all provinces.

Mr Jatoi, who is contesting for the NA-234 Mehar-Khairpur Nathan Shah seat visited the village, some 67 kilometres from Dadu, along with PTI candidate for the PS-84 Mehar seat Sadaqat Ali Jatoi.

He said it was time that people got rid of corrupt leaders who had looted billions of rupees.

Mr Jatoi claimed that the PPP had no candidates to contest elections because it had lost its reputation among people. He claimed that he was strong enough to defeat Asif Zardari. Two local PPP activists, Qamaruddin Solangi and Shajahan Mallah, announced their joining of the PTI at the rally.

PTI’s Saqib Mahesar, Dr Ghulam Abbas Mahesar, Niaz Buriro and Sajid Gorar were among others who spoke.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2018