DADU, Aug 27: Three activists of the PPP attempted self-immolation by sprinkling kerosene oil on their bodies during a protest demonstration outside the press club on Monday but they were saved by their colleagues. Around 40 activists led by Dadu city PPP activist Abdul Karim Mallah continued the protest on the fifth consecutive day and took out a procession and held a demonstration outside the press club.
Three activists, Imdad Siyal, Fayaz Ahmed Khushik and Amin Panhwar, sprinkled kerosene oil on their bodies and tried to burn themselves alive but other activists saved them.
Abdul Karim alleged that Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq neglected them in jobs and development projects. They tried to contact Pir Mazhar but he refused to meet them, he added.
Khan Mohammad Joyo said he was an old PPP activist but his children were neglected in jobs. He said those people were being appointed who opposed PPP candidates in election.
Imdad Siyal said that in every election, he remained active and supported PPP candidates but he was neglected by the PPP government, therefore, he was trying to commit suicide.
Later, they observed a token hunger strike in support of their demands.
Meanwhile, supporters of Pir Mazharul Haq took out a procession from the Pir house to the press club.
On the other hand residents of different villages, people and PPP activists of taluka Dadu joined the procession led by PPP taluka president Saifullah Panhwar, divisional president of the SPSF Nazir Ahmed Siyal, district SPSF vice-president Manzoor Hussain Khoso and vice-president of PPP city Azhar Hussain Birhamani.
Addressing the protesters, Saifullah Panhwar accused Abdul Karim Mallah of trying to create differences in the party at the behest of opponents. He demanded of president of Sindh PPP Syed Qaim Ali Shah to suspend membership of Abdul Karim Mallah and his associates.
Azhar said he was a witness that Mr Mallah and his group had been awarded contracts of development schemes on the recommendation of Pir Mazhar.
Job was given to sons of Mallah, Khan Mohammad Joyo and their relatives. Over 10 jobs in various departments were given to Mr Mallah which he sold.
If action was not taken against him and his group, they would protest.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has taken notice of the situation and directed the provincial minister and party’s divisional president Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman to probe into the matter and submit report within three days.
Following directives, district president MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali and district general secretary Dost Ali Jessar contacted Abdul Karim Mallah and Saifullah Panhwar, president of the PPP taluka Dadu, to end protests and counter protests, otherwise action would be taken against them.
They ended protest accordingly.
VERSION OF PIR MAZHAR UL HAQ: Pir Mazharul Haq said Abdul Karim Mallah was trying to malign him and his family members.
The party and he had provided 10 jobs and five contracts of development schemes to Mr Mallah and his group.
He said that to tarnish his image, Mallah was levelling baseless allegations of corruption and jobs’ sale. Mallah had been demanding more jobs and contracts and when he had been refused, he started protesting.
He said it was the practice of Mallah that when election got nearer, he behaved like this.
