KARACHI: In a first, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) held its ‘power show’ on Liaquatabad flyover in Karachi’s district Central on Sunday in connection with the death anniversary of spiritual leader of Hurs Soreh Badshah.

A large number of party workers, including women, attended the event. However, neither Pir Pagara nor Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi was present in the rally.

Speaking to the participants, Sindh PML-F Secretary General Sardar Rahim said Karachi was in a pathetic state as successive governments had destroyed it. He asked the people to trust the PML-F and pledged that it would eliminate the system of corruption.

Criticising the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), he said those who wanted to hold a ‘long march’ could not now muster courage to hold a ‘short march’.

He announced that his party would hold another rally in the city which would be addressed by Pir Pagara.

PML-F Karachi convener Arshad Baloch told the audience that ethnic politics had ended in Karachi.

In a veiled reference to Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain, PML-F lawmaker Nusrat Sehar Abbasi said: “Today Karachi is awakening while London is asleep.”

She said dogs were biting children everywhere in Sindh in the era of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

She said the rally proved that the PML-F was not only the party of Karachi but of the whole country.

Talking about the political situation in the country, Ms Abbasi said parties in the PDM were now fighting against each other as a rift occurred in the 10-party alliance.

Another party lawmaker Dr Rafiq Banban said Soreh Badshah sacrificed his life for the sake of the country and not for getting any power. Pakistan came into existence because of his martyrdom, he added.

Party leader Kashif Nizamani said that people of Karachi largely attended the rally to pay their respect to Soreh Badshah.

“PML-F is the first party which has brought the message of love for Karachiites,” he said.

Another leader Syed Ismail Shah Rashdi said that the participants in the show demonstrated that Karachi belonged to the PML-F.

“Karachi was exploited by different people,” he said, adding that some people looted Karachi and were now living in London.

Referring to the PPP’s government in Sindh, he said the party had turned Larkana into a ‘gutter’.

Soreh Badshah, whose original name was Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, was executed by British colonial rulers for launching the Hur freedom movement.

The movement was aimed at getting people of the subcontinent rid of the colonial power and administration.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2021