BADIN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) high command has called up former MNA Gul Mohammad Jakh­rani — its coordinator in Badin district — to discuss the home department’s move to provide special security to the party’s opponents.

Mr Jakhrani, speaking to this reporter over phone on Friday, hinted that the party was mulling over the option of moving the judiciary over the “malicious” allegations levelled against him and Amir Bux Umrani in the July 4 letter issued by the home department.

The letter, addressed to the Hyderabad commissioner and DIG, recommended special security for the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leaders and candidates, including Dr Zulfikar Ali Mirza and his family members, suggesting that the PPP leadership through Mr Jakhrani had tasked Amir Bux Umrani, whom it described as a notorious criminal, with bringing criminals to Badin district. It warned that the PPP had planned to create a law and order situation before or after the election. It hinted that Dr Mirza or his family members might be attacked or some GDA-affiliated leader, influential figure or voters might be killed in a targeted attack.

Mr Jakhrani said he had already left Badin to meet the party high command, which had called him to discuss the situation arising out of the “highly controversial” letter and “malicious” allegations against him and Mr Umrani.

He said he was astonished by the home department’s threat alert and the allegations against him and the party of plotting to create a law and order situation. “[PPP counsel] Advocated Farooq H. Naek would also be consulted on the option of moving court against the contents of the home department’s communication and the serious allegations,” he said. He said the PPP was likely to challenge the caretaker government’s directives issued in the wake of the threat alert.

Rejecting the allegations, Mr Jakhrani said it was really strange that the PPP or any of its leaders could indulge in criminal acts like armed attack on opponents. “Neither I nor Umrani have ever done the politics of this sort,” he said, adding that his job was to coordinate between the party high command and local leadership during electioneering.

Expressing his view about a motive behind the threat alert and the ensuing official directives, Mr Jakhrani said Dr Zulfikar Mirza might possibly have resorted to such ugly tactics to misguide the caretaker government. He said Mr Umrani was also not a criminal. He had once been an active leader of the PPP-Shaheed Bhutto, he recalled.

Urging the caretaker government to withdraw the letter, he insisted that the ground reality was contrary to its contents.

“It’s Dr Zulfikar Mirza who has been left unbridled to use foul and filthy language against PPP leaders,” he said.

Mirza family not satisfied with security

In pursuance of the home department’s directives, two mobile vans and necessary police personnel were provided to the Mirza family for their personal security on Friday.

Dr Zulfikar Mirza’s elder son, Barrister Hasnain Mirza (who is the GDA candidate for PS-72 Tando Bago), said on Friday that it was absolutely inadequate for the family of four.

“Considering the threat, the family’s security should be assig­ned to the [paramilitary force] Ran­gers,” he said.

Other GDA leaders and candidates in Badin district should also be provided adequate security, he added.

Commenting on the demand, Badin SSP Sarfaraz Nawaz Shaikh said that security to the Mirza family was provided as per the home department’s directive.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018