PPP launches drive for prime minister’s resignation with rallies, sit-ins across Sindh
KARACHI: Thousands of Pakistan Peoples Party workers and supporters joined in street protests held in all districts of Sindh on Sunday for the removal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the wake of the April 20 Supreme Court verdict of the Panamagate case and for failing to fulfil his party’s commitment to overcome electricity crisis. Speaking to protesters, PPP leaders condemned the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government for denying Sindh of its constitutional rights.
In Karachi, several hundred PPP workers and supporters participated in each of the sit-ins held in all six districts and intermittently kept raising the slogan ‘Go Nawaz Go’ during speeches by their leaders, who included PPP Sindh president Nisar Khuhro, Waqar Mehdi, Senators Taj Haider and Saeed Ghani, Dr Shahida Rahmani, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza and Ghulam Murtaza Baloch.
Mr Khuhro, speaking to party workers at Hassan Square, announced that the the party would organise the next sit-in in the city on Wednesday (April 26) outside the Mazar Quaid-i-Azam before taking the movement for the removal of the PM to other parts of the country. He said the movement would continue until Mr Sharif resigned from the office of the prime minister.
It is clearly mentioned in the Panamagate case verdict that Nawaz Sharif is not qualified for the slot of the PM and, as such, he must resign, according to the PPP leaders.
They said Mr Sharif and his two sons, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, should face the joint investigation team (JIT), being formed under the Supreme Court order, as common citizens.
“Mr Sharif must quit to face the investigation as an accused in such a case cannot hold a public office,” they argued.
They asked the federal government to stop usurping rights of Sindh, do away with the undeclared loadshedding and ensure implementation of the NFC awards in letter and spirit.
They also criticised the federal government for not removing the long-standing ban on new gas connections in Sindh.They condemned the prime minister and his ministers for rejoicing the SC verdict and trying to make people believe that it was in favour of Mr Sharif and his family. Instead, the PM should feel ashamed and step down for being declared disqualified for his position, they added.
The senior PPP leaders urged all political and religious forces to unite and join the movement for the PM’s removal.
They criticised certain parties currently holding their rallies in Karachi in the name of powers for local government representatives, saying: “They should first tell the people how much they delivered despite remaining in government with a heavy mandate for so many years and enjoying full powers.”
“The motive behind their rallies is to disturb law and order in the city but we will not allow this gang of conspirators to undermine peace,” they said.