HYDERABAD, Oct 21: Chairman of Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STP) Dr Qadir Magsi has reiterated that the STP will continue its struggle against the dual local government system in Sindh unless it is repealed.

He appreciated the apex court’s verdict in Asghar Khan case, but said that 1993 elections, in which PPP had been elected, were rigged because polls had not been held in a transparent manner. He called for some solid legislation to curb use of presidency for political purposes and working of political cells in secret agencies. He was briefing reporters at a local hotel here after presiding over a STP’s central executive committee meeting on Sunday.

Criticising the government, he said that when the court had ruled against the NRO, it got flak from the government, but when the judgement in Asghar Khan case had been pronounced, the judiciary was appreciated. He said courts decided cases on merit and when there was conflict among institutions, people pinned hopes on courts for remedy.

He criticised the government for allowing Musharraf to leave Pakistan and enjoy official protocol despite the fact that judiciary said that Article 6 should be invoked against him. The government did not comply with court’s order on target killings in Karachi and delimitation.

He said the STP believed that some legislation should be done to address the issue of intolerance, terrorism and interference of secret agencies in politics. But the PPP government seemed not serious to tackle these issues. “I am not sure what will be the outcome of directives given in Asghar Khan case,” he said.

He said that despite 18th amendment, the provincial autonomy had not been given to provinces. Sindh was still unable to get its share of water.

He lashed out at Qamar Zaman Kaira and Rehman Malik for taking on Nawaz Sharif in the wake of his meeting with Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal. Dr Magsi said the PPP claimed to be a federal party, but it always toed the line of the establishment.

He said the STP was actively taking part in the struggle launched by Sindh Bachayo Committee (SBC) against the LG law.

He rejected reports that he had talked to PPP ministers to bargain over a seat of MPA. He termed PPP’s public meeting a flop despite the use of official resources and expenses of millions of rupees.

He said SBC’s public meeting in Tando Mohammad Khan on Monday would be a big show. STP’s hunger strike at Nasim Naggar chowk would continue even during Eidul Azha.

He said the STP had finalised its names of candidates for 18 national and 45 provincial assembly seats to be presented before Sindh Progressive National Alliance (SPNA) which was intact for discussion.

He could not help saying that the STP had reservations over Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah’s recent meeting with Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Dubai.

“Although we can’t prevent Jalal Shah being Sindh United Party president from meeting anyone because there has been a working relationship between Arbab and Shah when Arbab was Sindh’s CM, but we will definitely speak our mind when the electoral strategy is worked out in SPNA on this issue,” he said.