THATTA: Sindh Minister for Works and Services Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Thursday warned that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would launch a countrywide protest if any attempt was made to arrest the party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Speaking to reporters at the local press club after condoling the death of its former president Mohammed Usman Memon with the journalist community, Mr Shah said that joint investigation team (JIT) had failed to prove any allegation against Mr Zardari. He also rejected media reports about an apartment in Manhattan (US) allegedly belonging to Mr Zardari.

He said Mr Zardari had no concern with any company or apartment since he became the head of state in 2008. “He has been implicated in fabricated and concocted cases,” added Mr Shah.

He told reporters that PPP opponents would achieve nothing from such tactics and conspiracies. He said the cases were instituted merely on “hearsay”.

In reply to a question about Supreme Court’s order to transfer [Mr Zardari’s close aide] Anwar Majeed to Adiala jail, Nasir Shah, who also holds the portfolio of prisons, said that the order could not be executed due to his poor health condition as his doctors did not allow him to undertake such travel although all arrangements in this regard had been made. “Such report has been submitted in the court concerned,” he added.

MPA Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi, PPP Thatta chapter president Sadiq Ali Memon, IG Jails Muzaffar Alam Siddiqui and others accompanied the minister, who earlier visited the site of a proposed jail in Jhimpir and the IBA College in Makli.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2018