LARKANA: Punjab Governor Saleem Haidar Khan has called for joint action by Sindh and Punjab governments against dacoits infesting border areas of both the provinces.

Talking to journalists after paying his respects at Bhuttos’ mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on Tuesday, the governor said that he would talk to chief ministers of both the provinces in this regard [and ask them] to initiate a joint operation, which had become inevitable for peace.

Flanked by Sindh minister Mir Tariq Hussain Talpur, the governor said that importing wheat without evaluating the situation was an irresponsible step and he believed all people allegedly involved in this decision would be held accountable. Growers were facing problems due to delay in the procurement of wheat, he said and urged speeding up the process.

He said in answer to a question regarding the defamation law that he believed genuine journalists would not object to the bill. Journalists should not air news without verification, he said.

He said that he had come to the Bhuttos’ graves after taking oath as governor, and expressed grief over the death of Iranian president and other officials in the air crash. Entire Pakistani nation stood with their Iranian brethren in their difficult time, he said.

He renewed his pledge to keep Bhuttos’ flag aloft in Punjab that had loved Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and had the same love in their hearts for Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as well.

He said that time demanded strengthening contact with people and turn Punjab again into a stronghold of PPP as it was during the time of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

Earlier, the governor along with Sindh minister Mir Tariq Hussain Talpur, Aijaz Leghari, PPP Larkana general secretary and chairman of district council spread flowers on the graves of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Amir Begum Bhutto and offered fateha.

Larkana commissioner and SSP were also present during the governor’s visit.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2024