KARACHI: The Grand Democratic Alliance has demanded from the federal government to give substantial package for Sindh and urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to formulate policies pertaining to Sindh in consultation with its allies in the province.

This demand was made by the GDA core committee comprising chiefs of the four political parties and leaders in the alliance.

The participants in the meeting, presided over by Pir Pagara at his residence here in Kingri House on Tuesday, reviewed the overall evolving situation in the country with specific reference to political developments in Sindh, ongoing investigation against the PPP leaders and organisational matters of the alliance.

Rules out any alliance with PPP and reposes confidence in accountability process

The meeting which lasted for over three hours was attended by Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi of PML-F, Ayaz Latif Palijo of QAT, Dr Safdar Abbasi of PPP-Workers, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim of Peoples Muslim League, Murtaza Khan Jatoi of NPP, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Hasnain Mirza, Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, Tariq Hasan Khan, Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, Nand Kumar Goklani, Sardar Ghaus Bux Khan Mahar and others.

Ruling out possibility of any political alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party in the near future, the GDA reiterated its determination to continue to raise its voice for rights of people in the elected houses.

It also extended its full support to the ongoing accountability process in the country and demanded that the process be taken to its logical end and all corrupt elements be taken to task.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Pir Sadruddin Shah said that the alliance after reviewing political situation decided to further stabilise and activate the alliance and organise it at the grass-roots level.

He said that Sindh was infested with problems and those responsible for the situation were known to people and media very well.

“However we will raise all the pressing issues and voice of the people from every forum.”

Replying to a question, Ayaz Latif Palijo said that the alliance fully supported the ongoing accountability process, which was going in the right direction, because all those who had plundered the national kitty or resources of Sindh did not deserve any concession.

“It is a long-standing demand that the corrupt people are taken to their logical end.”

Mr Palijo described the condition of the health institutions in Sindh as pathetic.

Growers of sugar cane were deprived of the price fixed by the government for their crops, he said.

He said that the government had announced that it would make recruitments in government departments and in this connection the vacancies should be filled not on political grounds but on merit only.

Referring to the Sindh chief minister, the QAT chief said that Syed Murad Ali Shah was facing severe allegations of corruption and as such he should quit the office of the chief minister.

He said that the GDA also had demanded a special package for Sindh to provide some relief to people who were facing grave problems.

Concern over citizenship, water shortages

The meeting also expressed its severe concern over water shortage in Sindh, power and gas loadshedding and giving citizenship to Bengalis and Afghans in Sindh and called for immediately reviewing the decision.

In response to a question, Sardar Rahim of the PML-F said that the GDA would hold a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan when he would be visiting Ghotki on the invitation of Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar.

He said that falling rupee value and rising dollar rate, increasing imports and reducing exports of Pakistan manifested severe economic crisis in the country.

Dr Arbab Rahim said that the accountability process ought to continue without any exigency and obstacle.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019