SUKKUR: Several thousand workers and supporters of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday took part in a demonstration and some of them observed a hunger strike outside the local press club to condemn the recent transfer of Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, the former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, to jail from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

The call for the latest protest was given by PPP’s Sukkur division chapter and the committee formed to organise province-wide campaign for the release of Mr Shah and his son Farrukh Hussain Shah. They, along with other family members and business associates, have been facing “mega corruption cases” investigated by the National Accountability Bureau.

Khursheed Shah’s younger son Zeerak Hussain Shah led the rally in which office-bearers of the party’s divisional and district chapters as well as heads of its youth, women, student, labour, minority and other wings participated.

The protesters marched through various streets and roads before converging on the local press club to hold a noisy demonstration. They demanded immediate release of all those nominated in the NAB reference on the basis of “false” allegations.

Speaking to them, Zeerak Shah condemned Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government for subjecting its opponents to political victimisation.

He recounted the “services” his father rendered to the country and its citizens and his contribution towards the restoration of democracy and human rights to the common man.

He accused the PTI government of using certain institutions to victimise PPP.

He claimed that Khursheed Shah was being victimised only to force him to change his loyalty with the PPP. “But he is enduring all such tactics and will remain steadfast. We [the entire family] will never bow to pressure,” he said.

Others who spoke to the participants expressed solidarity with Khursheed Shah, his family and the PPP leadership. They resolved to remain with the party through thick and thin and to continue holding protests against “excesses” against it.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2021