KARACHI, Oct 24: A new political group — Sindh Democratic Alliance (SDA) — was formally launched here on Wednesday with the objective to address the pressing issues of the province and to provide an alternate leadership to its people.

The group, consisting of some 60 former legislators and notables from all over the province, also announced the formation of a five-member manifesto committee, comprising Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, Naeemur Rehman, Khadim Ali Shah, Agha Zafrullah, Kishan Chand Parvani and Malik Ayaz.

Giving details about the Alliance, after its meeting at the residence of Mir Hassan Khan Khoso, the SDA coordinator Imtiaz Shaikh said: “This is not only an election alliance of political parties and individuals, but is a group which will play a constructive role in the assemblies as well.”

“We have decided to launch a mass contact drive during the month of Ramazan to enrol support for the alliance,” he added.

Mr Shaikh said that the alliance members deliberated on various burning issues of the province, including water shortage, agriculture problems, unemployment, highhandedness of Punjab police and the Afghan refugees’ influx in Sindh.

Replying to questions he said that the government already had conceded a shortfall of water in Sindh by 51 per cent, which was an alarming signal for the deteriorating agro-economy of the province.

He said that the SDA had taken notice of the attitude of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan, which, he said, failed to launch a cotton procurement drive in the province, compelling the growers to sell their produce to the ginners and middlemen below the market price.

Mr Shaikh urged the government to direct the TCP to play its role in the interest of cotton growers.

Murtaza Jatoi, in reply to a question, said that the alliance condemned terrorism in America and killing of civilians in the US bombing on Afghanistan.

Arbab Ghulam Rahim, another political notable from Tharparker, said that the alliance was not going to be merged with any political party. However, he said, broadening of its base up to Punjab could be worked out with like-minded political parties.