HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Demo­cratic Movement (PDM) will hold a public meeting on Feb 9 in Hyderabad for which arrangements are being finalised.

This was stated by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro at a media briefing at the residence of MPA Jam Khan Shoro in Qasimabad here on Saturday.

Before holding the briefing, Mr Khuhro chaired a meeting of PPP’s Hyderabad division chapter to discuss the arrangements for the public meeting, to be held at Hatri bypass. He announced the names of the members of the organising and media committees for the PDM show.

Answering various questions posed by media men, Mr Khuhro criticised the federal government for raising petroleum prices thrice in a month. He argued that a hike in petroleum prices always affected common man, who was dependent on public and private transport. Such an increase, he added, also affected the agriculture sector where diesel was mainly used for running machinery. “A hike in fuel prices affects 70pc of the population,” he said.

He said price hike had reached its zenith while development sector faced a decline. He also deplored the federal government for not increasing workers’ salaries that could enable them to face inflation.

Referring to a State Bank report suggesting that cotton production had registered a decline, he said this showed [federal] government’s incompetence.

Mr Khuhro told a questioner that government could be ousted either through no-confidence motion or through public meetings and rallies.

He claimed that the PDM had gathered millions. He recalled that the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) was launched in 1981 when parties had resolved to get 1973 Constitution restored. People then witnessed that the movement emerged successful.

He said that PPP had collected resignations of its parliamentarians but no decision was taken so far to present them to the speaker concerned.

He said the Senate elections would probably be held after Feb 21.

‘Murad Ali Shah to stay on’

Mr Khuhro criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for filing references in Punjab though they pertained to Sindh. “It should also file references pertaining to Punjab in Sindh’s accountability courts to show parity,” he argued. He said PPP had decided that Syed Murad Ali Shah would continue to serve as the Sindh chief minister despite filing of a reference against him.

“When a government functionary could hold his portfolio while facing charges, why the chief minister could not hold his office?” he argued.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2021