KHAIRPUR, Dec 14: President of PPP Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has alleged that thousands of acres of government, semi-government and forest land in Sindh is being sold on the basis of fake documents to influential feudal lords belonging to the ruling party.

He was speaking at a gathering in Dabbar Mohalla here on Thursday. Khadim Hussain Dharejo, former district general secretary Sindh National Front, announced joining the PPP on the occasion.

“Martial laws and mini-martial laws imposed on the country during the last 30 years deprived people of their basic rights, including their right to vote,” said Mr Shah, adding that all military rulers tried to keep people away from the political process.

“People of Sindh have been treated like slaves,” he said.

He said the chief minister Sindh was himself addressing press conferences to disclose inefficiency and corruption of Sindh Public Service Commission and illegal selection in government services “which is a proof of the failure of government.”

The PPP leader said that corruption was rampant in all provincial departments.

“Sindh is suffering due to differences between the MQM and the chief minister,” he said, adding: “Unemployment is at its peak. Graduates are applying for the posts of peon and police constables, but fail to get even these jobs.”

He said that the PPP, under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto, was fighting for the cause of poor people. He said Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was offered a 10-year exile by the then army rulers but he refused.

Mr Shah said by coming into power, the PPP would cancel all those sales of properties which had been made through fake documents. Corruption would be revealed to people and the whole world, he added.

Earlier, Khadim Hussain Dharejo said that he started his political career as a nationalist leader, but soon realised that the programme that all nationalist parties were claiming to pursue, was only being practised by the PPP.