LARKANA, April 1: Sindh’s chief minister designate Syed Qaim Ali Shah said on Tuesday that the government would try to withdraw all the fake cases lodged against thousands of Pakistan People’s Party workers in the wake of post-Dec 27 violence.

Mr Shah said while addressing the party’s working committees in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts and talking to journalists that the previous government had created new districts to dent the party’s popularity and erode its vote bank in the rural areas of the province.

The PPP government would review the decision in consultation with the elected representatives of the areas concerned and people, he said.

About award of compensation for damages to property during post-Dec 27 violence he said that the future government would grant compensation only to the genuine claimants and stressed PPP workers were not involved in the countrywide violence.

He said that talks with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were still in initial stages but hastened to add in the same breath that he did not rule out more talks in future.

He said that the party would form district committees with party presidents as heads and MNAs, MPAs and general secretary as its members to solve people’s problems and make recommendations for transfers and postings of officers at district level.

Mr Shah asked the government officers performing their duty in different departments to change their attitude and serve people without any discrimination.

Ayaz Soomro, president of PPP’s Larkana chapter, demanded that Chandka Medical College (CMC) be upgraded to the level of a medical university.

Mr Shah later visited the mausoleum of late Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto and Ms Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh where he was briefed on security arrangements by Home Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan and provincial police officer for the death anniversary of Z.A. Bhutto falling on April 4.

Nisar Khuhro, speaker designate for Sindh Assembly, also attended the briefing.

Our Naushahro Feroze correspondent adds: Speaking at a gathering here late on Monday night, Mr Shah said that his first priority after taking oath of office would be to implement the relief package announced by the prime minister after getting vote of confidence.

Mr Shah reiterated his resolve to withdraw all the fake cases lodged against party workers. A committee would be constituted to ascertain how the cases were lodged against workers after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

He said that private people and officers who lodged fake cases against party workers at the instigation of Arbab Ghulam Rahim would be taken to task.

He said that the PPP government would prove that late Benazir Bhutto’s slogan of “Roti, Kapra Aur Makan, Mang Raha Hey Her Insan” was not a mere slogan. It would be implemented, he stressed.

PPP MPA Dr Syed Ahmed Ali Shah, former PPP district president Malhar Khan Rajpar also spoke on the occasion.